“After nourishment, shelter, and companionship, stories are the things we need most in the world.”~Philip Pullman

“What do you have that’s scary? I don’t mean like walking scarecrows at night. I mean really scary,” inquired a blonde-haired friend. “I’m not sure. Does R.L. Stine work for you?” I asked. “I don’t know.  Let me see,” he replied quickly.  After scoping out the R. L. Stine section, he wandered around every other table to check out possibilities.

“Do you have three funny books?” inquired a little fourth-grade girl with two sparkling smiles standing behind her. “Do you mean three copies of the same book?” I questioned.  “Yes, we are three best friends and we really want to read the same funny book,” the girls replied. “Have you tried Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing? Peter and Fudge are a stitch,” I suggested while handing them the books. The girls all opened to the first page and started to read together.

“I’m looking for a comic book,” a second-grader announced to Mal. “Comic book? Follow me, let’s see what we can find,” Mal replied. “Mal this guy over here is looking for Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” I called out. “There may be some on that table over there,” Mal said pointing to the long table in the corner of the room.

As kids asked Wendy, Alia, Dave, Mal, Koriann, and I to help them select books, we chatted with each other about our favorites. “Didn’t Thank You, Mr. Falker make you cry?” Koriann asked as she held it in the air. “Yeah, I can’t wait for Patricia Polacco to visit Glacier Ridge this year,” I replied.  “What? When? That’s so exciting. I may have to be sick that day,” Koriann laughed.  

The morning passed quickly as we shared stories with each other.  At the end of the day, each child left with three books they had personally chosen.  Some chose books for themselves while others chose books for others.  It was a true gift to spend the time talking about books with friends today. Happy reading everyone!

~Anastasia Gruper