Bookstores are FUN – no ifs, ands or BUTTS about it!
A lady approached me at our bookstore the last time we went and said, “I just have to tell you it is so lovely to see children with such a desire for books.”
“Shhhh” I whispered to her, “…they have no idea all kids aren’t like this.”
She chuckled and walked off, touching and smiling at each of my children on the way.
This past week a woman came up to Kenny, “I’m a grandmother, how old are you?” He told her he was five. She seemed happy with that and asked him which of the two books she was holding would HE be interested in.
He looked at me with a “Is it okay for me to answer.” look and I said, “Go ahead, tell her which you like.”
“I don’t like that one or that one.” he obliged.
At first, I was a tad shocked, then I wanted to explain that he isn’t really a “storybook” kid – he’s sorta like Number 5, the boy needs INPUT, give him good pictures and cold, hard, facts.
Fortunately, I didn’t have to go into explanations, because she looked over his shoulder and saw he was reading this book:
And apparently that made it all too clear to her. “Ahhh…” she said, “You have older taste.” Then, she turned to the girls who were only too happy to give their opinions, and prefer storybooks to Encyclopedias.
We notice when we’re in the bookstore – even in the Children’s section – we are often alone. Sometimes we see Grandmas and teachers, but sadly, not a lot of kids. If we do see them, they’re hanging out on the end caps where the toys/gadgets are OR they are in the candy aisle or movie rental aisles.
I asked the manager why they didn’t have Saturday reading programs. He said, “We used to, I don’t know why we don’t anymore.”
My kids have been in bookstores before they knew what a book was. When Jeff and I had a date night, we almost always ended up in a bookstore somewhere. They’ve been raised there, and though they are still kids, and don’t want to stay for HOURS, they like it. Each finds their own aisle and sits down for a lengthy stay. I’m often told we don’t stay LOOOONG enough.
Bookstores are just fun. Really fun. We always find surprises and we almost always go home with a book, or two, or three. We’re book hogs. I wish our library was better, because sometimes it is a bit hard on the budget, but it is very hard to turn down a child’s request for a book.
Read! READ! And READ SOME MORE! is my mantra.
On this particular day, Emelie was researching Green Tea’s healing properties, and looking for the 3rd book in Ted Dekker’s “The Lost” series she’s reading. Meredith found a beautifully illustrated bird watcher’s book that included an audio of each of the birds’ calls.
Kenny was looking over Meredith’s shoulder for a while, but then found a few coffee table books with photos of space shuttles and men in space suits working on a satellite. He was interested in their suit, and what kept them from flying off, and their tools.
Knowing full well that I’ll be asked a question every 10 seconds or so, I usually sit and relax and let them have access to me. Sometimes it is to show me all the interesting things they’ve seen or read in the books they found. Other times it is to help get to books beyond their reach. And still other times – especially with Kenny – it is to read the harder text and/or captions and explain what the words mean.
It thrills me to see them so hungry for books.
34 have spoken up.
the planet of janet
my daughter discovered the joy of reading at 13. nothing i did before that made a difference.
but the right book? now she’s hooked forever. (btw, the book was “twilight” by stephenie meyer.)
Lori
I agree that books are wonderful. I was afraid that by having boys and cowboys at that, that I would also have non-readers. Luckily my kiddos got their brains from me:) and enjoy reading a great deal.
We never go to the library though. IT’s so far away for us:(
mamalang
We only have the “chain” bookstore in the mall…boo hiss. But we do have several libraries within driving distance, and one within walking if we didn’t have to walk along the major highway. We spend a lot of time in there…and going there is a treat for my kids. I sometimes feel bad for the librarians…with 4 of us checking out books (DH usually is gone when we go) there can be over 20 books. But I figure that’s what they’re there for, right?
caution
Around here there is a dichotomy between book store lovers and library lovers. Each seems proud of their loyalty. I’ve lost count of the times someone has said to me, “You teach English and you don’t go to bookstores???” I am loyal library lover, but I always feel a little cheap. My house is full and I can’t have more books here. But the rest of the truth is that I think my kids and I find as much satisfaction hanging out at the library as my friends do at the book stores. I even feel an unreasonable pride in my self-discipline of having to be on a waitlist for my turn to read a book. I go to the library for the pure love of the books and the joy of discovering a treasure in a dusty stack somewhere. I don’t need the coffee bar or the music or the multi-media sections of a bookstore. Of course, ADHD could very well have something to do with it, too! The fewer distractions for me, the better:)
Lou
Mine are the same way :-) They know us by name at our local store, and even know what to reccomend to me (heh- I’m an easy sell and they know it).
My son just had his first little cookie stand on the street by our house the other day- his goal was to raise enough money to buy a book he wanted lol! ( I had hit my budget’s limit with the 6 other books we’d already boght this month!) I’m so stoked that when he has $15 cash in his hand he wants to buy a book and not a junky toy!
janjanmom
Thankfully, my kids are like that too!! Also, fortunately, we have a good library so we save lots of money.
Reading is fundamental and knowledge is power!! It’s sad how many kids watch TV non-stop but never read.
Liz C.
My son, who loves to spend money as quick as he earns some, has twigged to the fact that his loving mother can easily veto more Legos, but has a very hard time saying “Nope” to a book request with his own money, and will even offer to cover the gap if he doesn’t have *quite* enough money for the three he just can’t decide between.
We have an awesome library here, with fantastic librarians, and regularly haunt the place. Mamalang, don’t feel awkward at 20 items. Our library has a 50-item-per-card limit. So everyone who can write their own name and address has their own card (I checked–this is okay with the library.) My rolling library box can hold about 60 items, if I don’t go wild in the New Books section.
We’re at the library at least once a week.
My overdue fines are a big part of their budget each year, though. Being AT the library doesn’t necessarily mean returning everything I was supposed to return.
Tracy
Our “date night” is also a night at the bookstore!
I used to work at a Barnes and Noble (it’s how I financed my undergraduate education) and so bookstores are simply like an extension of my home.
We were just there two days ago, and I admit the thrill of watching my five-year old race to the back of the store to find the “Magic Tree House” books he’s been lusting after for weeks…
bethany actually
1. “Number 5 is ALIVE!” I loved those movies.
2. Though I liked stories, I loved the same kinds of books as Kenny. My parents used to have this awesome National Geographic book about the oceans that had a double-page spread with about a hundred different types of fish, rays, sharks, octopi, etc. Each one had a tiny number next to it, and there was a corresponding list with the name of each creature. My brother and I spent HOURS looking at that book. There was another one about Our Universe that was really cool, too.
3. When I was growing up, a trip to the mall always included a stop at the bookstore, and we almost always were allowed to pick a book each. My mom didn’t buy us lots of clothes or toys, but she always bought us books. What was even better was going to the local thrift store and being allowed to choose as many books as we wanted, because they only cost ten cents each!
4. Troy and I almost always end up in a bookstore on our date nights too.
I love you and your family. :-) But you knew that already!
JackieW.
We are more of a used book store kind of family.
Love taking books in for credit then looking for used books to read.
Jan
I’m so glad you put this post up after the previous one. Thanks!
Because I would not allow my daughter to sit in front of the T.V. much or let her run nilly willy at the mall movies with her friends, she started reading more and more about the age of 9. I have always been a voracious reader of history, and maybe I would selfishly like to think that I contributed to her love of reading by always always volunteering at the school and public library near us. But ya never really know. But it is always good to encourage those who show the interest.
Reading helped her in so many ways growing up, kept her from feeling that she had to be doing and seeing everything her peers did, and set her on a course that would determine her degree in college.
She started of course with the Black Beauty, and the Red Roan, and the Flicka series,in the elementary and middle school, and then actually started the Equine Science course books in high school. She got her first horse when she was ten and Horses and goats were always her 4-H projects, and she showed her horses in many many shows, in and out of 4-H.
Many times her father and I thought that interest would wane and that she would wear herself out with her interest in it. It IS a lot of hard and heart work. But she didn’t, and that is what she got her degree in. The Equine Sciences. Now she continues to show, and train horses as well as fledgeling riders on proper care, technuiqe of riding, grooming, and the love of it all!
And all that, while collecting her “garbage movies”. Feh.
Guess what she is now collecting? Books, books, and more books, oh, and horse photographs as well! She said she is going to pursue classes in proffesional photography and video marketing.
I’m very proud for and of my girl, and I know you are of your children as well. You have a lovely family!
April in CT
You’re such a good mom and it makes me smile. :o)
chilihead
My kids and I love bookstores too! We recently discovered that we have enough stamina to walk to the Borders near us. We were thrilled! Exercise AND books? I may not like the exercise, but I’ll do just about anything to be near books. We are usually the only “kids” in the kids section too.
My husband has read ONE book (not counting Engineering texts) since I’ve known him–that’s 16 years. Given that, I’m proud that I’ve been able to instill a great need for reading in my kiddos.
Elizabeth
Awesome. Inspiring. Thank you!!
Jill
Ditto on the book store date nights. I spent 2.5 hours in Barnes and Noble just the other day and it was the most relaxing, enjoyable time of my entire week (of course I did leave my hubby home with our kids while I went). I wish we had a better library too. We had a great one when my oldest was little – 25 book check-out limit and we used to check out 25 weekly like clockwork and read them ALL! Our current library has a puny 2-book limit and a lousy kid section. So … unfortunately for our wallets we end up at book stores but have just about as much fun as it looked like you all were having. Our kids love it. So do I. Ditto to Liz C. too. I’m such a softy when it comes to buying books and my kids know it. Hubby and I both love to read too. Guess it’s one of those good “monkey see, monkey do” things.
Tanya
What a wonderful post! Some of my best memories as a child was perusing the local library for hours, trying to whittle down my choices of what I wanted to take home.
My boyfriend and I can get lost in bookstores for hours still. I can’t wait for the time when I have children to introduce to the wonders of reading.
happybashful
I love this post!! So glad to see kids with a love of books. I rarely see that with kids, even my cousins and children of friends.
My parents always took my sister and I to the library as kids. Every two weeks like clockwork. I’m the only one who picked up the habit. Bookstores have been my favorite hangout since I was young and still my favorite place to spend an evening. One of the great joys reading brought me was loving school, so much so that I went on to get my MA. Actually, as soon as I finished that degree, I was so relieved I could actually read for enjoyment again! And that’s what I’ve been doing ever since. :)
nancypants
We most often go to the library but we find ourselves at the bookstore after we go out to eat often. My husband and I also almost always end our date nights in a bookstore. :^)
nancypants
Okay… well, we don’t END the date night in the bookstore. Ahem!! (Cough cough)
naomi
i love bookstores!!!!
i noticed that your daughter was reading anne of green gables. i loved those stories when i was young. she made me want to be a redhead. alas, i was fated to remain brunette.
if you haven’t glommed onto them yet, the brian jacques “redwall” series of books are absolutely phenomenal books for young readers. they also make really good story time reading. when boy was younger, from about 3 years old and up, from 7-8 pm was reading hour. i’d read for that hour. i went through a whole lot of the redwall books. in several i had to get bran to read because i’d cry when a character died.
he also has another series about pirates and such.
bluejayecrafts
We schedule summer activities around the library programs. Our library has a great web site. We research and order books online and they email us when they have been transfered to our local branch.
They know us well enough that on a recent visit the librarian handed me a notebook that had accidently been returned with books on a previous visit. I was glad to get it back because it’s the book I have been writing all of my knitting patterns in.
The thrift store is a great place to get books. I have given a lot of ‘recycled’ books as gifts.
clistyB
Funny, the library is actually quite an expensive place for me. My husband forbids me to go there. One lame book lost in the hallows of our home got me sent to collections for $90, sunk my credit waaaay low resulting in a much higher payment on a home re-fi. Call a me a Barnes and Noble girl from here on out. Plus I kinda hate thinking of where borrowed books might have been, there was a Seinfeld episode about that, member?
Each and every time I go to the bookstore I inevitably run into this….what about you?
It’s the empty-threat mom who will attempt to ‘reason’ for many many minutes in a sickeningly-sweet voice with her 3 year old boy that “it tisn’t very nice to play with all 15 Thomas trains and not share just one….” talk about blood squirting outta my eyes!!
Mandy
Oh the day my children and I discovered Half-Price Books! Hundreds and hundreds of books for which my young girls love to spend their allowance. Ever since we got the cable shut off, their purchases have doubled. Funny how that works, huh?
Sparkliesunshine
This is what I want for my future children. A passion for reading. I think that is one of the most important things a parent can give to their children.
Kate
Growing up, we didn’t have a bookstore in our tiny little town, but I DID live across the street from the library. It was my second home. When we visited “the city” my dad and I always spent several hours in the bookstore, browsing while mom and sisters clothes-shopped. We never had the money to buy, but it was a treat to look and dream.
I’ve always said I will buy my kids as many books as they want. I even joined a kids’ bookclub when I was pregnant with my first, just to start building up their library. Books are my favorite treat, and having a stack beside my bed waiting for me to devour just feels so rich and indulgent. My biggest dilemma is which to read first! And there are so many I want to go back and enjoy a 2nd or 3rd time!
Chiada
One of my favorite things about grade school was when they sent us home with a long fine print list of books that we could order. I loved seeing the tiny little mini pictures of the cover of books with a brief description of each one underneath. And I loved being able to put a checkmark next to each book that I wanted. And then the best part: the day the box was opened in the classroom and the purchased books were dispersed. I wonder if they still do that in schools…
Jenk
So here’s why bookstores are empty:
My kids love books. They love to read. I love books. I love to read to them. I love the smell and feel of a crisp new book.
But bookstores?
Are crazy expensive. I can get the same books from Amazon or Target for half the price.
So, we shop online.
The End.
Michelle
My first job was in a bookstore, and I loved it. I still love books and would spend hours in the library if I had my druthers.
Laurie
I love bookstores. I could go broke in bookstores. I could stay all day in the library.
Tami
WE do not have a book store very close but we love the library. The librarians know us by name and are always willing to answer the millions of questions my kids throw at them. We do spend a long time at the library and then when I have a chance I go back without the kids. Just so I can browse and enjoy.
Mr. OMSH
Deprive a child of television…and this is what you create.
PS–It also helps to have dorky parents. I love adoption.
Dawn
I got teary-eyed reading this one. I used to love times like this with my children. I have been “empty-nested” for two years now and I still mourn. Glad to see that you’re whole-heartedly enjoying these moments while you can! *hugs*
jennyonthespot
Great pics… and yes – read, read, read!
KYouell
I can’t wait until my kids realize that books are friends not food. I do believe that The Cupcake swallowed a piece of our Nemo book. Then we can move from board books to real books and they can roam the library and bookstores. Sigh. My husband and I really miss bookstores. I miss reading something that doesn’t rhyme!
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