30 Comments

Such a great idea, Mary, to indulge yourself in children‘s books and spending time in that section in the library. I share your thoughts that these books have beautiful lessons and great value for adults as much as they have for children. Thank you for inspiring me.

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It has been a lot of fun…now I’m pondering my project for next year. Poetry? Short stories? Banned books?

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Big choice to make 🤩, all three are great. Depending on the channeling of the energy, banned books could be the winner. I am curious what your decision will be, which I will be reading about I guess. Happy decision making. Oh, maybe you need four months of each…

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Love this! The church is across the street from the Public Library and even though I usually use Libby, it's a fun activity when my grandkids are in town. They love that we can just walk down the block and they can get whatever books they want.

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That is fun! Like you, I read adult books electronically…and kids books somehow feel more fun on paper.

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I love the idea of reading one children's book a day for the year—or any other annual goal that has to do with reading! Mine is to read one short story a day for the year (mostly flash—under 1,000 words—to keep it manageable).

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I love that! I was thinking about what to do for next year. That would be fun!

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p.s. I just published my own post for this library-themed SeedPod:

https://stricklandia.substack.com/p/5-reasons-why-libraries-are-sacred

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Delightful! I love that you raised a reader. Great accomplishment!

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I love your one-a-day children's book project! I am a huge fan of the magic of books for kids (which are for all of us, really!).

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Agree! It's turning out to be a master class on how to tell a very short story, and it's really fun!

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I love this idea of never being lonely if there's a library to go to. It rings so true!

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Thank you for these children book titles. I tutor children who struggle with literacy because they have dyslexia and/or other language-based disabilities. They read aloud at the end of each lesson and I'll suggest some of these books for them!

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Linda, that’s fun! Hope they enjoy them!

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I love Over and Under the Snow! I will have to look up Jungle Cat and Sometimes All I Need is Me. :)

I'm starting the school year off with library-themed readalouds -- today we did a classic, The Library Lion, and a newer one called The Not So Quiet Library. Everything In Its Place is a great library picture book too, with wisdom for all ages!

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Jessie, those are both so fun! What a great idea!

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What a great collection! Note to self: must read Jungle Cat ASAP.

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My son, grandchildren, my 1st and 2nd grade students loved, the book “Blueberries for Sal”,and so do I. You brought back such fund memories of wonderful times reading to children!! 💙💙💙

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Dorothy, isn’t that a fun book? My mom read it to us, and I read it to my child, too. I love that there are so many more books with Black, Asian and Native kids now.

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MY SISTER! I am currently loving a FB group called Vintage Chapter Books for Children. These are the books I grew up with, before they were called "chapter books." I am delighted, DELIGHTED by the reminders of my youthful reading. The library has some of them and I am using the heck out of it!

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Mary Beth, that’s fun! So many memories!

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I’m eager to explore the titles you present here. Esther Averill’s “The Fire Cat” is a childhood favorite that never gets old. Other gems are: “Scaredy Squirrel” (Melanie Watts) and “Bark, George,” (Jules Feiffer), and “Widget” (Lynn MacFarland).

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Mary Ellen, I did not know any of these. I just put them on hold at the library. Thanks!

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We don't read too many pictures books any more. Aaron and I enjoyed Lightfall:A girl and a Galdurian. We're in line for the next book at the library. We're tag reading short chapter books, like the ones by Dan Gutman, My Weird School series. Best part is I shelf books at an elementary. When I see a book I want to read I bring it home. We read it then return it. Aaron should want to be reading any books in French. He's in immersion French school. We'll have to wander over to the picture book section next time we're in the library.

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My Weird School is hysterical!

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Barn, that’s fun! You have an inside track on the books!

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Barb, I mean…Bad typing!

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They're right next to each other. I do it, too 😂

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I have been spending more time with audio books over the past couple of years. Partly because of more extensive time in the car and partly because it is relaxing listening to the voice interpretations of the different narrators in the evening to remove the stresses of the day. The local library makes available the online Hoopla platform for free. I add the app to my phone and listen through my car radio or at home just from my phone. I have enjoyed quite a collection of documentaries and novels. Most recently, I have been listening to the "Miss Julia" series - a 22-volume, light-hearted group of episodes centering around the life and times of a middle-aged woman who lives in the South and interfaces with the various characters who make up the fabric of this ordinary American community in rather extraordinary ways. The twists and turns of the plots keep you riveted and wondering what is left to develop in the next volume. But each one holds your attention closely and provides something new that has not been discovered already. They do build on what has previously transpired but can also be read in isolation. The author is Ann B. Ross who actually lives in Hendersonville, NC and teaches at UNC Asheville.

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Yes! The audio book is a joy. Agree!

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