My first memÂoÂry of falling in love with books takes me way back to the tenÂder age of five. The litÂtle “GoldÂen Book GoldÂen Hours Library Clock House” that I received for ChristÂmas that year helped me become the pasÂsionÂate readÂer I am today. I cherÂished the colÂlecÂtion of twelve litÂtle books and one in parÂticÂuÂlar was extra speÂcial; The Four PupÂpies. It’s a sweet stoÂry of growÂing, learnÂing, changÂing seaÂsons and findÂing someÂthing to celÂeÂbrate along the way. It’s filled with optiÂmism, wisÂdom, and the loveÂliÂness of sharÂing life’s ups and downs with othÂers who care about you. A few years ago I replaced my origÂiÂnal GoldÂen Book clock house (which was lost long ago) with what is now conÂsidÂered a “vinÂtage” collector’s item. I even fashÂioned a HalÂloween cosÂtume to honÂor the book that first filled my heart with book love.
My first memÂoÂry of disÂcovÂerÂing a readÂing comÂmuÂniÂty takes me way back to the sumÂmer just after my sixth birthÂday. I eagerÂly waitÂed for the Carnegie Stout Pubic Library bookÂmoÂbile to roll into our mobile home park each week. For me, it was a magÂiÂcal vesÂsel on wheels. The library ladies (as I used to call them) who rode along with all those fine books always waitÂed patientÂly for litÂtle girls like me who took longer than most to make their selecÂtions from the rows and rows of options. My fondÂness for bookÂmoÂbiles will stay with me forever.
My first memÂoÂry of longÂing for a book takes me way back to sixth grade when the waitÂing list at my school library for Are You There, God? It’s Me, MarÂgaret stretched for weeks and weeks. I still rememÂber the thrill of finalÂly getÂting my hands on that book. I felt like I had found a friend who strugÂgled with the same quesÂtions and inseÂcuÂriÂties that I was expeÂriÂencÂing, which many 12-year-old girls were expeÂriÂencÂing. MarÂgaret would join my list of othÂer “book friends,” Ramona, PipÂpi, and EncyÂcloÂpeÂdia Brown, to name just a few.
As a teacher and a grandÂma, I am intent on tryÂing to proÂvide these memÂoÂrable expeÂriÂences: falling in love with books at an earÂly age, disÂcovÂerÂing a nurÂturÂing readÂing comÂmuÂniÂty, and longÂing for a cerÂtain book that brings a new friend into your life. These three sigÂnifÂiÂcant book memÂoÂries help define me as a readÂer. They form the founÂdaÂtion for my life-long love of readÂing and they are three of the reaÂsons why I am so pasÂsionÂate about litÂerÂaÂcy. If only all chilÂdren could make memÂoÂries of this kind, I am cerÂtain the world would be a betÂter place.
If I win the lotÂtery one of these days, you might just see me pulling into your neighÂborÂhood in my very own bookÂmoÂbile. Now that would be the tickÂet for creÂatÂing book memÂoÂries far and wide!
“Four PupÂpies” is a litÂtle (litÂerÂalÂly!) forÂgotÂten gem…that I have not forÂgotÂten. It is one of my favorites, too! The illusÂtraÂtions blew me away as a child, and still do.
Yes! “Four PupÂpies” is defÂiÂniteÂly one of the best “LitÂtle GoldÂen Books”! So glad we share a speÂcial affinÂiÂty for it, Amy!
What a great cosÂtume, MauÂrÂna! You look like a litÂtle book elf! I fondÂly rememÂber runÂning up the stairs to the chilÂdren’s secÂtion of our pubÂlic library each visÂit and dashÂing to the “S” shelf to see if there was a new Dr. Seuss book availÂable. And if there was, Oh HapÂpy Day! Such a good memory.