This year I’ve had the joy of reading to my younger grandson, Parks and his Pre-K class. Next week he’ll graduate in preparation for entering Kindergarten at the end of August.

I’ve watched him grow over the past year, with increased concentration and ability to sit and listen without interrupting — waiting to raise his hand to ask a question or make a comment. I delight in seeing his smiling face when he spots me at the door with two library books in hand. It warms my heart to hear his classmates say, “Grammy’s here to read.”

I’ve always loved to read and remember the excitement I felt in fourth grade when we purchased paperbacks through the Weekly Reader for 35 cents each. Mama and Daddy would give me 70 cents and I often spent it on two of the fifty-six Nancy Drew Mystery Stories. As an adult, a classmate recalled how I read on our long school bus rides; I hadn’t remembered that. Working as a school nurse for twenty years, I came to appreciate how lucky I was that reading came easily for me — unlike math :(. Seeing the importance of reading, I had the idea that “when I’m old and retired” I’d work with an adult literacy program.

During the years of raising our two sons, my husband and I tried to provide an environment that supported reading. We had lots of books, we spent evenings at the Pittsboro library, and we often read to them. They listened, but soon they were more interested in physical activities. In middle school, they started reading the sports-centered Matt Christopher books. That helped pique their interest in reading, but it never became something they did on their own until they were in their twenties.

With my two grandsons, I’ve encouraged them to read since they were infants when I kept them two days a week. The older one, Baker was like his father; he enjoyed listening for a while but wanted something more active — including putting puzzles together. With Parks, he liked books from the start. How happy that made me! It was sweet to see him embrace the book, Go, Dog Go! which had been a favorite of his Uncle’s.

Last summer on a very hot day, I took Baker and Parks to the Hunter St. Park. It’s a great facility with a track, playground, softball field, large soccer field, and skateboard park. When we finished on the playground we passed the book box of the Little Free Library. I explained to the boys that the books were free, donated for others’ to enjoy. I looked through the collection and found one that was for their age — actually a snowman book. Parks liked that one and wanted to keep it.

We played soccer for a while, but soon it became too hot and Parks lost interest, while Baker wanted to keep going.

“I want to read my book,” Parks told me, and I looked for a shaded spot near where I could continue kicking the soccer ball with Baker.

Parks planted himself under the crepe myrtle and soon was engrossed. I guess the story of a winter snowman cooled him off while we were sweating in the sun 🙂

I was glad he’d found a hidden treasure in the book box, what I think of as “book birdhouses.” My first knowledge of those gifts was in a former neighborhood. I remember being surprised to find one had been installed on a street near my house. I’d given and received books over those years in that community.

Now, I look at the website for the Little Free Library and find this mission statement:

“Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Our mission is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Library book-exchange boxes.” https://littlefreelibrary.org/about/

Reading further, I thought about my idea to work in adult literacy after retirement:

“We are facing a growing literacy crisis. Today in the United States, more than 30 million adults cannot read or write above a third-grade level. Studies have repeatedly shown that books in the hands of children have a meaningful impact on improving literacy. The more books in or near the home, the more likely a child will learn and love to read.”

I am working on literacy, I thought. The more we inspire and equip children to read the fewer will grow into adults who have missed the opportunities provided by reading.

I’m thankful for the gifts that reading has provided me since childhood. Now, I can share in my grandson’s life through the love of books and that special time turning the pages of a story that brings us together.

Best to you as you find shared joys with the little and big people in your lives.

Connie