Summer Reading: A Childhood in Books
"Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder." E. B. White
(art by Kristin Kwan)
Unlike the classroom, which felt like a jail to me where I was being told by others what was important, what mattered, what I should know, the library always felt like freedom. The library was open to my curiosity, my explorations, my wonderings, my desire for stories and understanding. From the time my Mother read to me before bed each night, I have devoured and loved and cherished books. And there was nothing more thrilling to me than when she first took me to the library where one could check out as many books as one could hold for free - with only a library card. I had never seen so many books before. The library was a welcome sign to learning, to letting my inquisitiveness run free. And there was no better time to do this than during the summer when school was out.
I looked forward to summer reading as much as I did a trip to the beach. The library was a magical place full of make-believe, wonder, fairy tales, adventure, and a seemingly inexhaustible trove of books to choose from. As a thoughtful, quiet, shy boy the library was a safe haven, a kind of surrogate home, where there was stillness and silence. I could explore the shelves without fear or worry.
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