As the library system grew, we visited a few of its branches. One in particular was my favorite. We (my sister and I) participated in the library reading programs there and they had the best books! One series has stuck with me all these years and until just recently I didn’t realize what the books were. They were on the bottom shelf, I’d sit on the floor and go through those light pink books with pictures of an animal that the story was written about. I read the whole series.
We as a family, all of us, my parents, my sister, my husband and his family…. we all tend to “collect” something. Dad collects RVs and automobiles, he also collects tools and other man stuff. My mom, it happens to be whatever hobby she is working on at present. Right now its quilting, the house is bursting with fabric. She doesn’t have a library but she does have an overstuffed bookcase. Most of them are paperbacks and center around history and Bible study. She reads a lot of crime drama too. I suppose that’s where my sister found her niche. She has a set of shelves her husband built overflowing with paperbacks of her favorite crime dramas.
Before I began homeschooling, my “library” consisted of a few collections I’d been reading. Just a variety of books such as historical romance, suspense, and some science fiction. There are quite a few non-fiction reads in there, Christian books, health books from working as a nurse, my husband’s confederate history books. Nothing really that labeled me as a book collector but oddly enough visitors would always remark, “Look at the books.”
Both my children have a bookshelf in their rooms, full of “twaddle”. As toddlers and preschoolers, I read to them a variety of books. I wanted them to grow up reading, and I knew the best way for that to happen was through modeling. As they grew their tastes developed and they started weaning their selections to make them their own. I noticed I had a hard time letting go of certain books. I had bought several of Robert McCloskey and Patricia Polacco’s books that I decided to add to the shelf in the living room. There were some other beautiful picture books I kept too. There was something of a “relationship” there. Reading and experiencing those books with the children, I couldn’t just let them go.
So, maybe my true collecting started with the birth of my children. Wanting only the best books for them, I started searching out which books were the best. My first book about books was, “Honey for a Child’s Heart” by Gladys Hunt. As I dug deeper, I stumbled across websites and blogs discussing Charlotte Mason’s living books. I studied all the booklists I could find at Charlotte Mason curriculum sites such as, Ambleside Online (I joined their very active forum as well), Read Aloud Revival (then known as Amongst the Lovely Things), Higher Up and Further In (no longer active but chock full), Simply Charlotte Mason, and many others. For the longest time those “lists” were my only resource.
Up to this point, the focus of our library has been about what the children will need to further their education and providing them the best in free reading. It’s definitely not a narrow scope but different than what I would think of as a “collector” of vintage children’s books. We have a purpose in mind with these books, its more than a hobby. As the library grows, I sometimes think of opening a lending library but I don’t know if I can handle the stress of “lending” out our books to those who might not love them like we do.
Since finding out about the Signature Series being appropriate for my son’s likes and reading level and that my daughter enjoys Messner’s I’ve been adding those to our shelves too. I’m constantly looking ahead so I can be familiar enough with titles to pick them up when I see them. You never know when you might come across it again. I’m trying to let go of this because I usually do come across the books again, eventually. It helps me to have a price point already in mind to avoid over spending.
In looking at our collection, it appears that we are history heavy, likely due to my collecting the series. If I’m forced to choose, my favorites are the natural history books, but I love science anyway. Illustrations always catch my eye and as a result I’ve found Jeanne Bendick and Glen Blough’s books pleasing to the eye. I like looking at the artwork in Jim Arnosky’s books too. As far as story, I really enjoy reading Jean George Craighead. My daughter likes her too. I recently acquired her Thirteen moon series and have yet to dive in but I’m excited. They have that vintage 60s appeal, detailed black and white illustrations and great stories to match. Brings back memories of reading Thornton Burgess’ bedtime stories. I suppose it just all goes back to the relationships we have with books, and if a book can bring to mind and heart those same “feelings” then it’s going to be a keeper.
I did have a series of books called “All About”. I enjoyed looking at them all lined up on the shelf but we weren’t ever going to read all of them so I picked a few to keep for “school” and once they are read will pass them on. They are informative books, well written and great for school but they don’t evoke that “warm fuzzy feeling” I mentioned earlier and I don’t feel a need to keep them. I find it strange and difficult to explain.
I suppose that feeling could be compared to an addict’s “high”. There seems to be a “drive” to find all the good books. The “drive” was really overwhelming when I had no idea what we might need later down the road. I had started selling books to fund my book buying but I was out shopping for books to sell more than I was home “schooling” my kids. It was consuming, so I closed up shop. My frequent trips hasn’t really changed all that much but now that I’m only shopping for me they seem more… concise. I get what I need (or what I think I need) and nothing else.
I once visited an older bookstore while on vacation out of state. That was amazing! I recently found out I missed a whole floor! Now, I want to go back! I also stopped on the way home from another vacation in Knoxville, TN at a warehouse called McKay’s. They carry used and new books, it’s a huge store. I didn’t have much time, my family didn’t want to stop but they graciously gave me an hour. There’s another McKay’s in Chattanooga, I’m planning a trip there in the near future.
One never knows what they might find or where.
