My daughter loves books! Fiona will sit through 8,9,10.... books at a time. She likes hearing the same book over and over (like most children) but is ok with being told "no, pick out another book, or have dad or grandma read that book, I've already read it." Because she loves books, and I love books she has quite the library, easily a couple hundred book. But is that enough? Not even close. Thus my love for public libraries! So when i want more books and both my wallet and shelves are groaning at the thought, its ok. I can borrow as many as i (or my husband) can carry. :) Its beautiful, they have thousands of children's books to choose from, and with the wonders of the internet and inter-library loans i have access to tens of thousands of books! And so as we come home with another two reusable shopping bags full of books, I decide that's what I'm going to begin this blog with. I'll rate children's books :) Adventurously I'm sure I'll cover a whole slew of other topics, but for now something near and dear to me, books.
But before i get to the first set of reviews, I have to say how sad it is how under-utilized the library is! As I'm standing there in the children's section, embarrassed by my stack of books, trying to decide which to put back (for now) the librarian comes up and asks if i need help carrying my books to the counter (yes, there were that many, LOL). I tell her no, thanks, I need to weed my pile down first. Her response? "Why?"
"Oh so I leave a few books for the other kids, LOL".
"Don't worry" she says, "If you'll actually read these to your daughter take out twice as many! I've had so many parents return the two books they took out for their children, and when asked they will admit they never got around to reading them!"
Even parents who you would think know the wonder and joy of a book, the other parents who bring their children to toddler time, don't really take out books! In the past three weeks of the current session I've seen one grandmother let her granddaughter pick out a book! I'm serious! She said "Yes, fine. Pick out one. No I said one! put one of them back." And here I am getting home and seeing the 43 library books we have on the shelf and adding in another 24, that i just got today (to make up for the 9 i took back, LOL).
But its ok, we were chosen as patron's of the month in September, and got free movie rentals for the entire month. (Yes, you have to pay for the video's. So strange, but eh educational videos are free, so its ok). And when we check out the librarians will often announce the total number of items out.... "Wow! 83 items out. That's great! Its so good seeing people use the library!" So its all good. I'll keep taking out absurd quantities of books and enjoying my daughters love of books. May that never change!
