I am happy to report that the library has become a regular part of our Tuesday morning routine. Thankfully there was a break in the rain and we got to walk a little (and count a lot of stairs*) after we parked the car. I had a book on hold, so we had to visit the grown-up floor first. The hold books come with two rubber bands and a slip of paper with ROG; I love that Charlie knows to take off the rubber bands and hand them to a librarian to recycle (next week we’ll work on handing over that slip of paper too 😉
The book on hold was A Hat for Mrs. Goldman; I reserved it as soon as I saw Juliann’s recommendation (we loved it).
But all the other books we read today, Charlie chose … and, I’ve got to think, he chose them based on their covers. the color. the size. the illustrations on the cover. (or yikes, maybe just that he liked where they were positioned on the shelves?!?)
Our routine is that I let him wander the stacks and choose two books (today he got to do that three times). Then we read them, he returns them to the “Changed my Mind Cart” and we repeat. I was delighted when he returned one time with two Ezra Jack Keats’ books I’d never heard of (The Snowy Day is a regular in our pre-nap story time rotation) but most of the other titles, well … we came home with three of them.
He chose well. We have real photographs (and trucks!). delightful illustrations. good stories. even rhymes (which are so much fun to read).
…and all of that made me think about the last book I chose based on its cover. I think I used to do it all the time. back when I used to wander the aisles at Barnes & Noble and bring home a pile of books. but lately…not so much. I did choose (and love) Nobody’s Fool last year because it had flowers on the cover (summer bingo!); but I really can’t remember the last time I picked up a book to read just because of its cover.
How about you? what was the last book you read because of its cover?
*as I typed that, I wonder how OCD it is that I always make a game of counting stairs with Charlie … the stairs in my house are 6-9-3 and the ones at the library are “more than 20”.
p.s. yes, Charlie wore his hoodie for nap. and yes, he kept his hands in the pockets.
mere-et-filles 
I love how low those bookcases are – so kid friendly!
You are doing a wonderful thing for Charlie by taking him to the library every week. He will be a lifelong reader and library user (and supporter!) because you are creating this habit for him and I applaud you! Letting him choose his own books is all part of the experience and it looks like he's good at that, too!
Tuesdays at the library sounds like a perfect way to spend the day! Those low shelves are great and I wish more libraries were as kid-friendly. I also used to choose books by their covers back when I had a local book store to browse in, but now I make many of my book choices virtually, which doesn't lend itself to cover appreciation. Hmm … something to think about!
I used to choose books-by-their-cover frequently. But now I tend to choose them based on recommendations from readers I trust and "long-lists" from book awards I follow. (If I'm browing in a REAL bookstore or the library, though? The covers are total "click-bait" for me!)
And Charlie's love-of-the-hoodie is just so freakin' adorable! XO
Library days are the best!! Your library is so kid-friendly – fabulous. I, too, often would choose books by their covers when I shopped B&N. Now a lot of my books I get on Overdrive based on recommendations from different blogs that I read. I miss my B&N forays, but that store seems more like a toy/game store now…fewer and fewer books. Sad.
Library days are truly the best – I am an adult and I simply love going there! And, that picture of nap time! LOL I love it! Thanks for sharing that – it has given me a BIG SMILE!!
Charlie's Tuesdays with you are so special and he will always remember his time in the library with you!
Yay for Charlie's love of THE LIBRARY; thanks Mary! Love his eclectic taste…and the nap time outfit! Too cute and funny!Cheers~
I still love libraries (and bookshops) – it has been an ongoing love affair all my life. And I am sure that Charlie is going to be so grateful for all this wonderful together-with-you-and-books time. My oldest grandson, now 8, absolutely adores reading and it opens so many doors when you do. I think the combination of being snuggled in with a loved one, the sound of their voice, and the bright pages and interesting mind-opening worlds forges positive happy neural networks in the brain that we can connect with ever after. You're doing A Great Thing :).
Hmm good question about the cover, it's probably been a while! Don't know what I would have done if I didn't have a library within walking distance growing up. I really wish I knew ALL the books I've ready at least the chapter books!