Random Bookish Thoughts

• We just got ourselves Rupert Public Library cards last week.  Last year we didn't live within the boundaries of a city with a library, so we (actually my father-in-law for my Christmas present) had to fork over the big bucks to get a library card to the Burley library.  It pretty much saved much of my sanity last winter.  They have a weekly story time for the kids, and Madeline and I would go early just to read together and pass the slow wintery hours.  When trying to check out our large stack of books and movies last week, the self check-out machine told us our cards had expired.  So, off we went to scope out the Rupert library where we knew we could get free cards for living within the city limits.  We found out when we got there that the Rupert library is interconnected with the Burley library so we can still get books there and go to our cute storytime (they do a craft every week with the kids, too - it's like our 1 hour a week preschool).  I love that this area has a pretty well functioning library system. I plan on showing my support for the library any way I can.  I grew up going to the library at least once a week with my family.  Books were important to my parents, and they became important to me.

 

• I recently discovered that Scott likes non-fiction books, especially of the biographical and self-help nature.  I've been suggesting books for him to read for years, and he never likes them.  Even when I'm SURE he'll love it and it was one of the best books I've read, he's bored out of his mind with it.  For some reason it took me until now to realize that he does read, he just doesn't read the same things I like to read.  He's a non-fiction kind of a guy, and I can support that and be done suggesting books that have a great story line, because he just doesn't care.  

• When Benson was born I discovered a little shelf at the library with most of the Newberry award winning books of the last 100 years.  I started reading a couple every week as I nursed my baby.  They were perfect for the late night, sleep deprived hours - not too long, and not too difficult.  They are wonderful little stories.  My favorite was "Bud, Not Buddy".  Read it if you get a chance.  

• We spent last weekend at my parents' home.  I was checking out the bookcase outside of their bedroom, and found treasures.  My mom is a teacher, and had kept a lot of the books she used to use in her classroom.  Some are my very favorites, like "Superfudge", "Ramona Quimby", "Bridge to Terabithia", and others.  I'm so glad she kept them so I can share them with my children.  I remember lying in bed while my dad and I took turns reading "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing", and laughing hysterically when Fudge ate the turtle.  "No chew, no chew.  Gulp Gulp!".  She also kept a collection of children's books on tape.  I remember spending hours sitting in front of a little tape player, listening to books on tape in my room.  Each book was a story of a different virtue, like honesty, and courage. She hadn't kept those, but she had kept others.  I brought them downstairs for Madeline.  She spent a lot of time over the weekend in front of the tape player, listening to those books at the kitchen table.  I'm glad she shares my love of books.