The wonders of the library

I know that in this day and age probably not that many people ever go to their local library. Nowadays it's all Kindles and online bookstores.  As much as this is fine, there is just something so very special about holding a 'real' book in your hands.

The library played a huge role during our upbringing. If we weren't in the school library or local library in our nearest town we would no doubt be in the mobile library van that visited our village. I remember how much I used to love clambering up the steps into the weird, dark vehicle to be surrounded by books - something that you just didn't expect to see.

I was quite slow at reading when I was small, and didn't like reading aloud because I was so shy. However, I perservered because I loved being swept away into another world when I picked up a book.

The Bodleian

My love for the library carried me all the way to one of Europe's oldest libraries - The Bodleian in Oxford. I studied at Oxford Brookes, not Oxford University, but was really keen to apply for a library card for the Bodleian. I clearly remember going to one of the Oxford Uni Colleges to be sworn in with my friend Rozie (funnily enough). There were about 20 of us around a huge mahogany table with a rather scary looking dean wearing a black gown. When it got to my turn he asked me whether I would like to be sworn in in the Cornish language or English! (We actually only went into the library once, it is an incredibly beautiful place, however quite scary for us non-academic art students). With this library card I was also able to enter The Radcliffe Camera which was rather exciting too.

The Radcliffe Camera

I visit the library regularly to borrow chunky books for Eve. It was with great amazement that I picked up 'Rosie's walk' (1968) by Pat Hutchins a couple of weeks ago. The illustrations are so eye catching I knew it instantly, even though I had not looked at it for many years. It celebrated it's 40th anniversary in 2008, how time flies!  Our copy was a normal paperback book in those days, so it's really lovely that this is available as a chunky book for younger children now. If Eve gets her hands on a paperback book she just wants to scrunch it up or eat it...

Books are so important for children, I have so many cherished stories that I simply cannot wait to read with Eve as she develops.

The Idle Parent - Tom Hodgkinson

Tom Hodgkinson writes the family column for The Telegraph newspaper. We were given this book for Christmas from Sam's brother Ben and his partner.

Eve is 4 months old this Thursday. I have only just managed to start picking up books to read - and not for long so far, maybe 20 minutes at a push. But, I am going to make sure that I create more time for reading each day - less tv.

I woke up before Eve the other day and started to read this book. It really captured my attention right from the get-go. He writes humorously, with complete honesty about real life with children. I haven't read it all yet, but I really like what he is saying. It makes complete sense to me.

I had been worrying lately that perhaps I should be doing more things with Eve but this made me realise that perhaps I don't need to push it, or her, or myself. I take her out nearly every day (weather dependent) and she enjoys looking out the window to see what's happening on the street below.  We play on the play-mat and have fun with the hanging animals over her cot everyday, but I leave her to it a lot of the time whilst I'm cleaning, cooking and pottering about. She loves cartoons and I can tell how much she enjoys watching them - however I am trying to make sure that she doesn't watch too much. That said, I can't bear to take her away from an episode of 'Adventure Time' until it's finished.

My husband is going to Greece on Thursday for a 10 day DJ Tour. I am setting a goal that I will finish this book by the time he returns. Let the challenge commence!

Anyway, everyone has completely different ideas on bringing up children, maybe this one is not for you, but maybe it is. Perhaps give it a go and see what you think. I'm not sure if I'll agree with everything he says but I'm definitely looking forward to reading the rest of it.

Like Hodgkinson says "there's carefree and careless, there is a difference".

An article in The Telegraph (2008) by Tom Hodgkinson about his book:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/mother-tongue/familycolumnists/3356183/The-Idle-Parent.html