Today is one of those days you wish would never end. It’s quiet. Peaceful. Many of the things my life often isn’t. There’s snow outside, giving the faint illusion that I could be trapped here forever if I wanted to, and before sitting down to write this post, I made myself a cup of tea.

Ah, tea. The very drink I swore to hate for all eternity. At least my detestation for Root Beer remains strong and untainted.

I’ve missed a couple blog posts the past few weeks. It’s not a bright spot on my radar, but I’m trying very hard (and lowkey failing) to not be too hard on myself. I did that with Smudged Thoughts–miss a week or two or three and feel as though your entire identity as a blogger is fraud. I’m choosing not to live like that anymore. Today, I’m choosing instead to drink my tea and talk about books!

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SNOW DAY THOUGHTS – LIBRARIES & CHILDREN’S BOOKS

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Ever since I was little, I wanted to work among books. It’s a pretty common goal for bibliophiles, I’d have to imagine. Libraries. Book stores. Publishing companies. Any of the above would do, as long as I was working with books. If I could simply exist in a space where I could get lost in the pages of the greats before me, maybe some of that greatness would rub off on me. For as long as I can remember, these spaces–except the publishing company, of course, since I’ve never had the luck to step foot in one–held endless possibilities. So much potential. They unlocked a primal urge inside of me to tell stories and tell them well. They were my safe space. My haven.

And then I got hired at one of them.

I’ve been a librarian for 4 months now–almost 5–and I can honestly say that while the greatness of the… er… greats… hasn’t yet rubbed off on me and given me endless insight into how to craft a book, I can say that this job has been fraught with exponential opportunities of growth and learning.

Okay, okay, but honestly? It’s been incredible. Do I miss my little coffee shop? Absolutely. But I’m pleased to report that the magic I assumed would exist by surrounding oneself daily by books is, indeed, real. And though it’s been feeding my love of literature and learning for the past 4 months, I find my hunger for knowledge and fiction has grown–and is continuing to develop–an ever-increasing appetite.

Not to mention that I also believe there is a ghost living in the walls of the Children’s Department who really, really enjoys my presence. (and who was most disappointed when the Children’s Dept. flooded a few weeks back…)

Oh yeah. Did I mention that my office flooded? Because it absolutely did.

But all that to say… I’ve greatly enjoyed my albeit small time as a Children’s Librarian. Getting to know the patrons, learning the whims of my kids, allowing myself to accept the fact that I’m okay even though it’s different and new and I feel extremely out of my depth at times. I saw a post on Instagram recently that said sometimes you have to fail in order to succeed. I like that. Mostly because I tend to be quite good at the ‘failing’ bit. But every little–or not so little–bump in the road is bringing me to where I someday hope to be, and for now, I think that’s good enough.

Which brings us to the more fun bit of today’s topic: books. Specifically, children’s books. Children’s books which I feel everyone–especially adults–should read at least once before kicking the bucket. Never before have I understood with such clarity Madeleine L’Engle’s quote, “if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.” So many people think that children’s books are written just for children, and for adults to read to children just for the sake of reading to them.

Let me tell ya right now: if that’s the way you feel, you are completely missing the point of children’s books. Just like with YA and Adult fiction, there are books that were merely written to be published and bought, and then there are books. Books that take you by the heart, wrap you in their pages, and guide you. Just because they are smaller and simply written does not negate the impact they have on the soul. Just because it was written for children does not make it any less worthy of being read and studied.

Below, I have compiled a list of some of my (unfortunately not all, as that would take far too much of all our time) favorite children’s books! From authors of all times and places, with characters all across the map, these are the stories that have touched my life in more ways than one, and they are stories that I hope–if you give them the chance–might become something special to you, as well.

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Children’s Books

We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

As charming as it is hilarious, this book has brought so much laughter and joy to my life. I’ve read it about a billion times to my cockatiel, and he loves the illustrations just about as much as I love the story. I also read this to not one, not two, but three preschool classes who came to tour our library last year (just shortly after I was hired), and each and every one loved it.

I will never not talk about this book, y’all. Not ever.

Norman Didn’t Do It (Yes, He Did) by Ryan T. Higgins

Don’t tell my coworkers, but I literally sat at my desk and read this book one evening and laughed my head off. Alone. In the Children’s Department. (Shhh, it was for storytime research) I love Norman. I love Mildred. I love the Other Tree. Higgins has a way of capturing childhood innocence–and quite a splat of sarcasm–inside each of his characters. I think that’s what makes him one of my favorite authors.

As someone who’s always had an affinity for befriending trees (and not so easily befriending people) this book spoke to me on a whole other level. Norman is such a sweet little guy who wants his friendship to stay the same. But, as we and Norman must eventually learn, sometimes friendships change. And the beauty of it is that it’s okay when they inevitably do.

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patti Lovell

I only just remembered this book recently. But looking back, it’s a book that I can now see has literally made me, me.

This story is about a girl who is a little bit different, a little bit weird, and a little bit brave. Molly Lou Melon has helped me grow into my Kenzie-ish-ness time and again–now, I think, more so than ever. She takes the things that make her different and shows the world how these things make her special instead. As far as childhood favorites go, this one absolutely ranks in the top 5.

What Do You Do With An Idea? by Kobi Yamada

This is a relatively new addition to my Children’s Books I Cannot Live Without list, but goodness gracious is it a good one. The illustrations in this book are so simplistic and captivating, and the way the colors start to spread as the Idea takes hold… Oh my goodness, you just really need to read this book for yourself! I cannot even begin to recommend this one enough, especially for all my fellow dreamers and Idea Chasers.

Seriously. Get yourself a copy of this book.

(and much thanks to my Mom and best friend, who gave me my copy after an incredibly chaotic day of work and helped reorient me in my big-idea chasing, dream-crushin’, crazy-fueled existence. XD)

Frindle by Andrew Clements

This book was a gift from a friend, and I will never forget how I felt the first time reading it. There are some emotions that can be expressed in normal conversation, and then there are some things that can only be known through reading. This was a book that took everything I was invisibly feeling and struggling with and spelled it out for me in a perfect, book-shaped package.

I don’t know how that friend knew I needed this book. Maybe there truly is something magical about stories that brings them to their needed readers. But I am forever indebted to them for gifting me with it. It’s helped me in many, many ways, and I hope that if you haven’t yet read this book, you will read it and see for yourself just how much of an impact a story can make.

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talk to me, peasants!

What’s your favorite children’s book? Let me know in the comments below, and I’ll do my best to read–and maybe even review!–it!

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