Children's Book Monday

First of all, I am well in body, mind and spirit. Thank you for your prayers...we are still waiting for the pulling away, but Psalm 27 has been given to me by the Father as a promise and an exhortation to wait on Him. His grace has been, as always, more than sufficient.

Despite moving to a new state and setting up house in an apartment that has, providentially, much more room for our bookshelves than we thought, we have been to the library four times already.

You read that right. The first time, we could only check out five books per card, since we were new members. This will never do! we signaled to each other with our eyes. The kind librarian then informed us that we could come back the very next day and check out twenty-five more (per card) if we liked, which of course we did.

Within four days, the boys wanted to return. I suppose a library that is roughly six times the size of the one we just left behind does appear to have more to offer, although I will miss being the only mama in the children's section, sitting on the floor surrounded by my choices in large piles.

And since then, we have rounded out our lists with books we placed on hold that could not be gotten from our sweet old library in our sweet old town.

To quote Thomas Jefferson... I cannot live without books. My fat bookshelves can attest to that. And I promise you, there are at least half a dozen boxes of books currently in storage. How I miss them.

Ox-Cart Man
by Donald Hall
Pictures by Barbara Cooney

Yes, another book illustrated by Barbara Cooney. Not only are the pictures beautiful and captivating in their simplicity, but this story is a gem as well.

In October, the ox-cart man and his family pack the cart full of everything they made or grew all year long that was left over, and he travels with it to town.

Once there, it is all sold, and you will be surprised by what he does next!

It is hard to review this simple book without retelling it exactly, so I will simply tease you with the words Autumn...linen...candles...birch brooms...goose feathers...maple sugar...Portsmouth Market...and good, old-fashioned hard work.

This book is so good to read with children, especially mine, who sometimes view their days as revolving around them, filled to the brim with entertainment. I liked the look in their eyes as they took in not only the hard work that the entire family joined together to accomplish, but also when they realized the reward for labor of that kind.

Put it on your list - you will not be disappointed! Happy Reading!