The article “Literacy starts with a story” from Jan. 24 brought back many fond memories for me.
My now 10-year-old daughter Molly and I began to attend “story time” at the Nanini Library when she was 2. What a fun time we had together! Every week we looked forward to our story time adventure with anticipation and joy. Adventure it was!
“Mr. Eddie” was the fun, over-the-top animated leader of the weekly craziness. His expertise in selecting just the right books and his great skill reading them and eliciting participation from both the kids and adults resulted in many, many wonderfully fun nights and magical moments.
Reading helped bond our relationship and hard wire the love of reading into Molly’s soul. There were lots of favorites and themes we loved — the one I’m thinking of today was around the Tucson Rodeo in late February. We were introduced to “Thunderhoof” by Sydney Hoff, the story of a wild horse who refuses to be tamed by the cowboys but misses their company after they give up and turn him loose. Pure delight! Wholesome fun! Magic!
People are also reading…
At home, after we purchased the book, Molly would have her own “story time” at home, gathering her mom and dad to “read” to us. She had memorized the words on each page, intoning them perfectly as she turned the pages, pausing and showing us the illustrations just as Mr. Eddie would have done, for our entertainment. Wow! Molly read all the Harry Potter books when she was 7 years old and has a turned out to be a very good student, too. Her current favorites are all the books by Erin Hunter — and she’s read around a hundred of them!
Early on, I became acutely aware that Molly’s prolific reading would bankrupt me. I spent (and spend) hundreds and hundreds of dollars every year. Nanini Library has been a gold mine for us, saving us tons of money over the years. I don’t have to pay for every book she wants to read — she can borrow and enjoy them from the library without it costing us an arm and a leg. Perfect.
I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate the librarians and the library staff at Nanini and the other libraries around the community. The librarians have expertly and knowledgeably guided Molly into new reading experiences and good, unfamiliar authors time after time. Over the years the benefits have been profound, and I find my heart full of gratitude for the impact of Nanini Library in our lives.
Our experience at the library has soothed and stirred our souls, moved our hearts and nurtured our great love of reading. I couldn’t be more thankful for this gift.
What a gem we have here in Pima County with our wonderful library system! I can’t think of a better asset and resource to develop young (and old) minds and imaginations. Libraries rock.
Read on!
