From the moment I saw that second line, I wanted to take my
child to the library. While pregnant, I dreamed about going to the library:
Story hour, playing with the puzzles, looking through the picture books.
My hometown has a great library system with 17 branches
serving the metro-area. They are on Library Journal’s All Star library list,
having received 5 stars in 2009 and 2010 and 4 stars in 2011 and 2012. (An
interesting note, at 34 stars the state of Ohio ranks #2 in total stars on the
list, just behind New York.)
Yesterday we had our first opportunity.
Wee’s idea of a physical library is straight out of “Curious
George goes to the library”. He understands that we sometimes get kindle books
from the library that go away after some time has passed. He’s actually pretty
cool with that notion.
So, I was really excited when he started talking about
reading a library book that had expired on the kindle. I asked him if he’d like
to go to the library to get some more books.
:::record scratch:::
GO to the LIBRARY? Um, yes, mother.
After grabbing his new Mike Wazowski backpack from the
sub-shop, we got on our shoes and headed out to the car. On the way he informed
me that he wanted a book about a dinosaur, a train book, and a book about a
bunny - three of the books that George picks out during his visit to the
library. Once unbuckled from the car seat, I reminded him that we needed to use
an inside voice and be very quiet in the library. He nodded then placed a
finger over his lips and whispered, “shhh”.
Our neighborhood branch has a fun children’s section. In
addition to half-a-dozen computer terminals there are toys like puzzles and a
dollhouse to keep younger kids entertained. Wee gravitated right to a
child-sized grocery stand and began playing with the toy food (“Broccoli! Ice
Cream! Orange!”) before helping me pick out his books.
Once we had found his bunny, dino and train books, I asked
if he was ready to go home. He gave me his sage nod and replied, “Go home,
now.”
We checked out, reverently placed the books in his backpack
and returned home to read them. Repeatedly.
Parenting bliss!
Lyric stuck in my head: Check it out! Don't we need a little understanding?
