A Card of One’s Own

Kindergarten Kiddo is now a card-carrying member of our community’s library system!  She’s been asking about getting her own card for some time, and FINALLY – last week - the big day arrived.  We had an agreement that she could get her own library card once she was old enough to do two things: sign her own name, and convince me that she wouldn’t lose the card.

So, here she is…

… holding her SECOND library card.  Yes – she was able to sign her own name, but her original library card went MIA in less than 24 hours (sigh).  

No matter; I noticed that having the card in her pocket made a instantaneous and measurable difference in her browsing habits.

She took her time wandering the stacks...

...and, is it my imagination, or is she walking a little taller today than usual?

If you are contemplating a similar milestone with your little one, might I suggest a book to pair with the experience? 

Beverly Billinglsy Borrows a Book by Alexander Stadler tells the story of young book-lover Beverly who gets all dressed up for the big day: the day she gets her very own library card.  Beverly revels in the delicious responsibility of checking out her own library book, but trouble ensues when she forgets to return her book by its due date.

When Beverly realizes her mistake she spends a few days in agony over what might happen because of it.  She shares her dilema with her classmates over lunch.  She feels worse after Carlton shares this tidbit:

I love this book because it is written in the language of children and contains a tension-filled (but not terrifying) storyline.  We were lucky enough to get this book with an accompanying CD audio recording, so we were able to listen to it in the car on our way home from the library.  This is the perfect book to complement this momentous occasion.

Happy Reading!