How the Books Moved In: The Story of Our Home Library
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I love my home library! Every time someone walks into our home for the first time and they see the walls covered with books, their reaction is always the same: “Just what I expected!” And then they start perusing the shelves. And that makes me so very happy! I love sharing books with friends and family. Books are a love language all of their own. And sharing books is the best part of it. But this beautiful home library did not just happen overnight. It has taken me years to build it. In fact I came to this country with only a handful of books, so really, I started from nothing at all…
In the beginning
Once there was a newly wed couple who only needed one teeny tiny bookshelf to fit all of their books combined. Most had been gathered during college and a large part of these were, horror, textbooks! My childhood books were still in France neatly boxed at my grandparents. Some have moved here since and some have stayed with sister and her kiddos. My husband did not have many childhood books and so we started with one tiny shelf… Then we found out we were expecting our first bundle of joy! And my first reaction was: but I have nothing to read to a baby! And that one thought was my downfall…
Our first picture books
I knew nothing of children’s literature in the USA. And having my own childhood books available was out of the question, for the time being. So we made a trip to Tattered Covers. And that was an expensive trip. I let my husband select our first picture books (aren’t you proud of me?). And I was introduced to Dr. Seuss for the first time. And I did not like him. Not the text (it was so weird and made no sense), not the illustrations (too bright and crazy), not any of it. But I humored my husband and figured that it was hopeless. I would have to find a way to bring home my French books.
Very slowly
Very slowly beautiful picture books entered our lives through thoughtful presents for our little one. The first one that I remember getting was Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney, illustrated by Anita Jeram. Then we received a onesie with a funny caterpillar on it. I had no idea what it meant, I just thought it was funny. But a friend asked me if I had read the book. Blank stare. So she bought me the book that went with the onesie: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Slowly, very slowly, the world of American picture books was opened to me and I fell in love. Deeply in love.
Building the library
I had no idea that you could buy used books until one day I entered a thrift store, and right there, by the entrance (not hidden in the back behind the furniture) were shelves and shelves of books. For almost nothing. I found several small Beatrix Potter picture books. They didn’t match but they were old friends! I had grown up on Beatrix Potter. And so I started perusing the thrift store shelves every opportunity I got. And our library started growing. By the time Baby was born we might have had a total of 10 children books! A real treasure trove!
With a toddler
Then I got a library card. And that library card opened the doors to getting to know different authors, illustrators and styles in general. And that is when our library really started growing. I made it a rule that if we borrowed a book more than twice, I had to start looking for it at the thrift store. And while at the thrift store looking for a specific book (rookie mistake, you’ll never find it), I started recognizing authors and illustrators that we had enjoyed from the library. For the price, I might as well pick up the book. And so the library grew. Then the other Babies started coming, and with them more opportunities to buy picture books.
Book buying excuses
First were birthdays, at every birthday each child receives at least one new book. It is usually a used book, but new to the child to start building her own library. Then the same started to happen for Patron Saints feast days, one new religious or spiritual book. Then we needed Christmas picture books. So St. Nick’s Day, December 6th, became a day to receive a new Christmas themed picture book. And of course, everyone needs a new picture book in their stockings for Christmas. And another spiritual read for Easter. It really does add up quickly! With 4 children at 5 new books a year it is 20 new books in the house per year. And this number kept going up as the babies kept coming.
Home Education
I’ve always said that I homeschool because it is the perfect excuse to collect books. And nothing can be truer! Remember my library rule that if borrowed more than twice I buy the book? Well that went very fast! I had finally encountered blogs, and the book suggestions were flooding my “to buy” list! Then talking with other home educating mamas both in person and online opened my horizons even wider. I found reliable lists and resources and that helped me discern what to look for, especially for living books.
How to do it
Really the key to buying books worth spending the money and the shelf space on was solid and reliable resources. In our digital age you can find book reviews everywhere but I look for ones that I can trust (see below). People that I know are looking for the same qualities in books that I am. Having direction is a great help, especially when you start from scratch. I have built our library through used books, found either at the thrift store or online. Very rarely do I buy a new book. Some new releases through the years have been worth it, or I join their Kickstarter campaigns. We joined the Kickstarter campaign for the Wingfeather Saga way back when and it was a tremendous experience! And now we own signed first editions, lol!
Learn about authors, illustrators, books, genre and start finding what you want on your library shelves. Borrow from the library, from friends and family. Ask questions and totally judge a book by its cover!
Love,
Mattie
