Since I’m an author, I’m sure it is no surprise that I love books. As a child, I don’t remember not being able to read. In first grade, I couldn’t understand why some kids couldn’t read the words in the Adventures Dick and Jane. Certain books still fill my memories of childhood. Exciting stories of children doing brave and amazing things. Nancy Drew discovering the answer to a mystery. Girls who rode horses in competitions. Boys who battled evil wizards.
Books have been a constant companion for me all my life. They filled long lonely days in the summer when no friends were available. They’ve kept me company in doctor’s offices, waiting for in my car, and when my babies wouldn’t sleep. Some stories are like old friends who come to visit again when I reread the familiar passages.
February is National Library Lovers month. It got me thinking about how much our local library has meant to me. My earliest memories center on the musty scent of books and the basement. The children’s section was downstairs, and you had to go down a strange curved staircase. I still remember the anticipation of browsing the stacks for books about kids like me who found a mystery or had an adventure. Since I was a timid kid, it was exciting to me to read about these brave boys and girls who would stand up to the bad guys.
If you haven’t visited your local library recently, head out and see what’s happening there. Adventure awaits in the pages of your next book!