This savoring of life is no small thing.
The element of wonder
is almost lost today
with the onslaught of the media
and gadgets
of our noisy world.
To let a child lose it
is to make him blind and deaf
to the best of life.
~ Gladys Hunt in Honey for a Child’s Heart
in bulk, because it is my first choice for a baby present. Often I mark the brand new book, noting our family’s favorites.
Each ramble through this book resurrects moments of warmth, joy and laughter. The deliciousness of receiving a new Little House book each birthday of my girlhood; the echoes of “keep reading” from my sons; the books that broke our heart and incapacitated us; the hide-and-seek games my oldest son and I played with the Ralph Moody books we were reading concurrently; how right it feels to have a toddler on your lap while you are both absorbed in a book.
It will be a challenge to keep this talk to one hour…
A Living Pencil 
Hey! That’s my baby present, too! Love that book. Love it. Love it. Love it.
Please, oh please, have someone record this….. I would have loved for someone to have given me a book like that – all marked up with comments about favorites!I treasure an anthology of poems that was originally on a great aunt’s bookshelf…. just her check marks seem to tell a little story about her tastes and preferences.Also, Sherry Early’s Preschool Curriculum (Semicolon Blog) is a terrific resource for starting a home library. That was my last baby gift, since I ran out of Wise Words by PJ Leithart 🙂
I’d love to hear this talk! Hope things go well.Janie
Aw, y’all are great encouragers. (I love to write y’all, cuz I never say it…I’m tapping into my Southern persona =D)Dana, I’m bringing a copy of Sherry’s Picture Book Preschool with me. I gave it to my daughter-in-law, with books starred which were available at our local library. I need to talk with my husband about giving a copy of that to all the young moms in our church. I think that would be an excellent investment.I don’t think it will be recorded, but I’ll probably share my notes on the blog later this week.Thanks for the good wishes!
I’d love to hear it too, Carol. Does anyone there have a mini recorder? You’ve got a ready and waiting audience.Di
I was thinking of the listening audience in years to come. I understand that years ago, my mother gave a talk on child-rearing before a group of young mothers at church. I was already married and out of the house (state), but would have loved to have heard what she had to say 🙂
Wish I could be there! What a fun topic to talk about. With your passion for books, I know you will inspire your listeners.
What a great idea..I’ve got the need to buy baby presents soon! I’d love to hear the talk too….I’m sure you’ll do great.
I am so interested in what you have to say. Is there anyway you could do a live internet version with your readers at some point? Introducing good literature to children (and parents) is to change lives forever! Blessings on your talk.Faith Proctor
I too love Ralph Moody. I have never heard of that book but I will look into it.
Carol,Have I ever told you that I know Gladys Hunt?Love,Steph;)
@wonderloveandpraise – Steph, after reading a letter in the later edition by a mom who was raised on HFACH, I was thinking what a neat fan letter I could write to Gladys Hunt. I was also thinking how much fun it would be to sit down over a cuppa and talk books with her. Then I got your comment. Cough, cough. No, my dear pal, you HAVEN’T told me that you know Gladys Hunt!!! Now I want to know who you DON’T know! And I wish, oh how I wish, that the March connection would have worked. Someday, sister, we will get together.
Scott and I were on InterVarsity staff forever… she and Keith were pioneers in the movement… the rest is history!I can’t wait for that cuppa, either. Someday!! You’ve been a huge encouragement to me this year. What a wonderful blessing this crazy internet can be!HugsSteph[how we LOVED ‘the gathering storm!!!!]
and yes, you should record it and post audio on the blog. that’s all there is to it.
Carol, as expected, you presented kidlit wonderfully. :0) The timing couldn’t be perfect regarding youngest son, and I am looking forward to the days ahead. Yes, we are moving on now to ‘bigger’ books ;0), but I love his guilt-free love of the ‘younger’ books. A good story is just a good story!
Thanks, Btolly. I’m working on the best way to get the information to y’all. Thanks for your encouraging words.