my daughter's teacher asked me to see her...she explained that she knew my daughter knew how to read but she was refusing to do so and asked me to explore the reason....when i inquired my daughter said, "oh, mommy, if you know that i know how to read you will stop reading to me every night and that would make me so sad" i responded "oh, honey, we will read together...i will read one page and then you will read the next....we will share reading the book to each other"
When I was a child I lived with my mother and grandmother. “Nanny “ was a voracious reader and she began reading to me by the time I could sit up. I was reading on my own by my fourth birthday so she and I started taking the bus to the nearest library once a week. The ladies at the Heights library in Houston soon got to know me and would often suggest books I might like. By the 2nd grade I was reading with the fourth graders and by ten I was reading Booth Tarkington’s Penrod and Penrod and Sam. I loved the Poppy Ott series and of course Laura Ingalls Wilder. I have Nanny and the ladies at the Heights library for encouraging me to read . I still do most days. I think the greatest gift you can give a child is the ability to read. As a poor child growing up I could only dream about the places I read about. As an adult I have been fortunate to visit some of those places. I still find magic in the books I read. Thank you Nanny. Thank you library ladies.
Thank you for sharing your story! I am recently retired from a 40+ year career as a librarian and library director. I look forward to seeing your children's book(s) in print one day.
As I read your story, I found myself identifying several stories in the writing, all of them worth telling and worth reading. My question for you is: what age group are you targeting? The vocabulary level suggests early elementary school. If that is your target audience, perhaps you want to consider gleaning the story lines. Write the library story; write the story about how you saw the racial divide; write the story about your heroes.
Think about writing several children's books, each with a strong central focus. The kids who read, or who have your books read to them, will understand the connections between your stories.
Same story, Irving Texas. My mother read to us, so by age 4 I was reading. The first week of school, I asked the teacher if I could take the reader home. She assumed it was because I needed help. Next morning I returned it and asked for the next one. She called my mother to verify that I had read it, not been read to. From then on, no limit to the school readers. The tiny public library was soon exhausted. In 7th grade a friend invited me to join her on Saturday …a trip to the Dallas Public Library! It was as big as a football stadium! And no limit on the number of books I could check out! (27 that first time). Now age 76, I average 4-5 books a week. I’ve had a great life, travelled the world, career federal prosecutor, active in public affairs…still reading!
Even though I'm over 70, I still remember my parents taking me to the beautiful New York city library, with the impressive lions out front. And I still remember the first book I checked out: Blueberries for Sal. I have been a library patron ever since then. Every time we've moved, the library is usually the first place I seek out.
When I was in 3rd grade, we moved from small town Ft. Collins to big city Denver. At University Park School, one day during reading class my teacher caught me reading several stories ahead in the group text. She tested me, and then said “Hmmm. I’m going to have to punish you.” My punishment was my own reading text—The Wind in the Willows. Then she took me to library and told the Librarian “This child may check out anything he wants.” God bless teachers. God bless librarians. God bless Carnegie libraries.
I may have already told you this in previous comment. I also grew up in Houston. Early on, I loved to read. During WWII, my dad had a company car, but it was not available to the family except for emergency. But - my grandmother had a friend who owned a car!! And every two weeks she would take us to the downtown Houston Public Library. My brother, my mother and I each checked out a pile of books and Mother would tell me, in the car on the way home, don't start reading yet, those must last you two weeks!! God bless that friend!!
Thank you for reminding us that not everyone has had access to libraries in the past. If you want to be introduced to wonderful art and writing about and by African Americans go to www.beautifulblackbird.com There are stories and activities to go with 7 books that are on line and accessible for a year. All children will enjoy these but they will be specially enjoyed by black and brown children the site is a great resource.
When i was in elementary school, every week when my dad would pick my girlfriend and I up from our Brownie meeting, he would take us down to the library. I could only pick out five books a week because, otherwise, I would stay inside and read all the time. The books I remember the most were a series of little orange books which were biographies of people in history. My reading books in school were the Dick and Jane series. I was so happy when my grandchildren learned to read, although I don't think they get the same feeling of being swept away into another time and place.
Excellent job, Dan! I certainly would buy many copies to place in the Free Little Libraries scattered throughout my neighborhood (and, of course, one for my bookshelves!).
“And many heroes worked very hard to make sure everyone can go to the big library”. That’s going to be my mental kick-in-the-butt when I start to feel discouraged about the state of affairs in our country. Thank you for such a meaningful piece today.
Yes, the town library and the books inside helped to shape my thinking, enlarge my worldview and make learning a lifelong joy. I am 90 now and every Monday morning I read to 5 groups of children at "Library Time" at my church's child care center. Sharing the joy of books with preschoolers feeds my soul.
my daughter's teacher asked me to see her...she explained that she knew my daughter knew how to read but she was refusing to do so and asked me to explore the reason....when i inquired my daughter said, "oh, mommy, if you know that i know how to read you will stop reading to me every night and that would make me so sad" i responded "oh, honey, we will read together...i will read one page and then you will read the next....we will share reading the book to each other"
and that's what we did!
When I was a child I lived with my mother and grandmother. “Nanny “ was a voracious reader and she began reading to me by the time I could sit up. I was reading on my own by my fourth birthday so she and I started taking the bus to the nearest library once a week. The ladies at the Heights library in Houston soon got to know me and would often suggest books I might like. By the 2nd grade I was reading with the fourth graders and by ten I was reading Booth Tarkington’s Penrod and Penrod and Sam. I loved the Poppy Ott series and of course Laura Ingalls Wilder. I have Nanny and the ladies at the Heights library for encouraging me to read . I still do most days. I think the greatest gift you can give a child is the ability to read. As a poor child growing up I could only dream about the places I read about. As an adult I have been fortunate to visit some of those places. I still find magic in the books I read. Thank you Nanny. Thank you library ladies.
Thank you for sharing your story! I am recently retired from a 40+ year career as a librarian and library director. I look forward to seeing your children's book(s) in print one day.
As I read your story, I found myself identifying several stories in the writing, all of them worth telling and worth reading. My question for you is: what age group are you targeting? The vocabulary level suggests early elementary school. If that is your target audience, perhaps you want to consider gleaning the story lines. Write the library story; write the story about how you saw the racial divide; write the story about your heroes.
Think about writing several children's books, each with a strong central focus. The kids who read, or who have your books read to them, will understand the connections between your stories.
Same story, Irving Texas. My mother read to us, so by age 4 I was reading. The first week of school, I asked the teacher if I could take the reader home. She assumed it was because I needed help. Next morning I returned it and asked for the next one. She called my mother to verify that I had read it, not been read to. From then on, no limit to the school readers. The tiny public library was soon exhausted. In 7th grade a friend invited me to join her on Saturday …a trip to the Dallas Public Library! It was as big as a football stadium! And no limit on the number of books I could check out! (27 that first time). Now age 76, I average 4-5 books a week. I’ve had a great life, travelled the world, career federal prosecutor, active in public affairs…still reading!
Even though I'm over 70, I still remember my parents taking me to the beautiful New York city library, with the impressive lions out front. And I still remember the first book I checked out: Blueberries for Sal. I have been a library patron ever since then. Every time we've moved, the library is usually the first place I seek out.
When I was in 3rd grade, we moved from small town Ft. Collins to big city Denver. At University Park School, one day during reading class my teacher caught me reading several stories ahead in the group text. She tested me, and then said “Hmmm. I’m going to have to punish you.” My punishment was my own reading text—The Wind in the Willows. Then she took me to library and told the Librarian “This child may check out anything he wants.” God bless teachers. God bless librarians. God bless Carnegie libraries.
This is such an inspiring book. Is it published?
I may have already told you this in previous comment. I also grew up in Houston. Early on, I loved to read. During WWII, my dad had a company car, but it was not available to the family except for emergency. But - my grandmother had a friend who owned a car!! And every two weeks she would take us to the downtown Houston Public Library. My brother, my mother and I each checked out a pile of books and Mother would tell me, in the car on the way home, don't start reading yet, those must last you two weeks!! God bless that friend!!
Thank you for reminding us that not everyone has had access to libraries in the past. If you want to be introduced to wonderful art and writing about and by African Americans go to www.beautifulblackbird.com There are stories and activities to go with 7 books that are on line and accessible for a year. All children will enjoy these but they will be specially enjoyed by black and brown children the site is a great resource.
When i was in elementary school, every week when my dad would pick my girlfriend and I up from our Brownie meeting, he would take us down to the library. I could only pick out five books a week because, otherwise, I would stay inside and read all the time. The books I remember the most were a series of little orange books which were biographies of people in history. My reading books in school were the Dick and Jane series. I was so happy when my grandchildren learned to read, although I don't think they get the same feeling of being swept away into another time and place.
Thank you. Your story is my story.
Excellent job, Dan! I certainly would buy many copies to place in the Free Little Libraries scattered throughout my neighborhood (and, of course, one for my bookshelves!).
As a retired librarian (who now volunteers in the children's area of my local public library!), I am very appreciative of this post. Thank you!
“And many heroes worked very hard to make sure everyone can go to the big library”. That’s going to be my mental kick-in-the-butt when I start to feel discouraged about the state of affairs in our country. Thank you for such a meaningful piece today.
My librarian heart is full.
Yes, the town library and the books inside helped to shape my thinking, enlarge my worldview and make learning a lifelong joy. I am 90 now and every Monday morning I read to 5 groups of children at "Library Time" at my church's child care center. Sharing the joy of books with preschoolers feeds my soul.