I previously wrote about the important role fiction can play in our every day life. Anyone who has observed children playing knows they pretend. They play act, imitating what they have seen and heard. This is a healthy and normal part of childhood learning. I remember my youngest daughter’s surprised tone of voice when I asked her what she had… Read More The Necessity of Fiction
When families are new to our library we give a little tour. I say little because the library is small; I say tour, not because one could get lost in its labyrinthine sprawl as in one of those vast public library buildings, but because we want them to be able to locate the books they need. In the course… Read More The Therapeutic Effect of Fiction
Spring is a whisper away, but I am already hearing the perennial rumblings of discontent. We are emerging from our winter semi-hibernation state. I’ve been hearing a lot of restless moms and children lately; moms are weary of lessons and children are swelling like the buds on the trees, their pent-up energy causing them to want to burst out. This can… Read More Spring Fever
Since we opened our library, I have learned innumerable astonishing things about children and their tastes in books. One of these surprises is that boys love poetry. My curiosity was aroused when I realized that so many young boys wanted to check out the book The Duchess Bakes a Cake. After all, it’s about a lady, 13 daughters, and… Read More The Way to a Boy’s Heart
Reading aloud to my children is one of the sweetest pleasures I know. I cannot even guess how many hours of my life have been spent reading to them. I do know the investment has had huge returns for them and for me. They have not all responded to being read to the same, however. I read to my… Read More Reminiscences about My Reluctant Reader
One seemingly ordinary Monday morning, we began school singing the hymn, “All Creatures of Our God and King.” As we finished I impulsively asked my eight-year-old son to look outside and tell me if the sunshine really had “golden beams” from the line in the first verse: “Thou burning sun with golden beam”. After a… Read More Golden Moments
Over twenty families visited the library yesterday and it was a fairly typical day of checking in and out books and making book recommendations. It is a marvel that so many parents are so deliberately looking after their children’s education. The day is full for us, going by in a blur as Emily and I enjoy conversations with… Read More Always Winter and Never Christmas
Having spent most of my life in northern Michigan, winter has always been a long season. After the holidaysespecially, it became the tradition in our family to hole up, play games, and read good books. This winter is turning out to be a mild one here in southwest Virginia, but the habit is established. My two youngest sons and… Read More A Season for Reading
When you think of getting an education, what first comes to mind? School? And what associations do you make with school? Desks? Chalkboards (my age is showing)? Teachers? Textbooks? When you think back to your own school days, whether recent or distant, I would be willing to bet that you can still conjure up the… Read More what is a LIVING BOOK? part four
Living Books are written by authors passionate about their subjects. Have you ever had the experience of looking forward to reading a book on a subject you were eager to learn more about, only to find yourself yawning or your mind wandering off, not long after you turned the first few pages? Perhaps you have… Read More what is a LIVING BOOK? part three