Why is it that I often bemoan not having enough time to read? At the end of the year, the list usually surprises me because I read more than I thought. This must simply continue to prove my theory that, here a little, there a little, every day a little, gets you through a lot of books in… Read More What I was Reading Last Year
Full to the brim and fast as lightning is my summary of this past year’s days. The first four months were dominated with preparations for the wedding of the year, which was glorious on that last weekend of April. The next third of the year was marked by my husband’s absences from home to attend training for his new… Read More Bookmarking the Year
In April Liz was interviewed by Jeanne Dennis of Heritage of Truth. Mrs. Dennis was interested in hearing what we define as “living books” and why we have a private lending library devoted to their collection, preservation, and circulation. If you’d like to watch the interview you may do so here:
Years ago, I was taken aback when a mother told me she could not read The Rag Coat to her children because “It has death in it.” Mystified, I didn’t even respond, but pondered the remark a great deal afterward. To avoid death in children’s literature would be to neglect such treasures as The Lion, the Witch and the… Read More A Time to Read and A Time to Weep
Advent has begun. Busy preparations of all kinds are underway. Before we know it, Christmas will be here, and with it the days of Advent will have flown by again. One of the ways we savor this season is reading a new Christmas story as a family every year. Actually, not new in any way except to us, as… Read More Our Favorite Christmas Story Ever
There is a comment I hear frequently from parents in our library which I have pondered quite a bit and wonder what to say when it is used in conversation. I find the response to this question not to be so easy to articulate, but am going to venture out in hopes that some brave and honest souls out there… Read More Hard Thinking About Easy Reading
My grandson and my son are both learning to read. Henry is 19-months-old and loves Angus and the Cat, The Story of Ferdinand, and Katy and the Big Snow best right now. He’s a very busy boy, but always ready to discontinue any activity if someone is willing to read to him. When they’re not, he will read to himself.… Read More Learning to Read
Have you ever been so captivated by a book you couldn’t stop thinking about it? Have you ever wanted to meet that author, have a conversation with him, ask all the questions the book has provoked in your mind? Has the reading of that book ever led you to read other books you would otherwise not have done? The… Read More From Books to Books
Shelly wrote us asking for some recommendations of good Ocean Life books to read aloud to her science-loving 6-, almost 7-year-old. Here are some of our favorites: The Burgess Seashore Book For Children by Thornton Burgess One of the first field guides for children, Burgess’ inimitable ability to combine story with scientific fact is prominently… Read More Top Picks: Ocean Life
Friday Emily and I got in the car at 5:00 a.m. and headed to Hendersonville, North Carolina in order to arrive two hours early for a big library book sale. We’ve been showing up for this sale annually since 2004, the year our friends, who are also book lovers, first introduced us to this special event. It is a… Read More If Your Son Asks For Bread