Little makes me happier during these “fusilli times” (** see note below) than hearing about librarians who do a fantastic job of presenting good books to kids. Recently, that includes librarians who stand up to the pressure to ban books, a movement more widespread than I once thought possible. But it also includes librarians who re-introduce well-loved picture books from the past to a constantly fresh pool of wiggly new readers.
The article which appeared in my email Inbox and delighted me this morning was one from the New York Times describing a gathering of 225 (!) people at the Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick, Maine (see photo of the gathering, above.) And can you guess who was reading to the kids? It was Sal McCloskey of Blueberries for Sal fame. Decades ago, that book, by Robert McCloskey, along with Make Way for Ducklings, was one of my kids’ favorite books. It’s the perfect book to read every summer before you go out to pick your annual supply of blueberries. Click here for a link to that article.
Kaplink! Kapink! Kaplink!
Sal is now 78 years old, still living in Maine, still experiencing her Mornings in Maine. The caption on that photo says, “As Sal McCloskey read ‘One Morning in Maine,’ young audience members crept closer and closer. Some followed along in their own copies of the book.” The kids creeping closer and closer as she reads – .isn’t that the way it is with a great picture book?
So hooray for kids and hooray for well-loved favorite books and hooray for stalwart librarians!
**Footnote: I refer to “fusili times” (wacko weather disasters, climate change, Ukraine, politics, indictments, ad infinitum) because of the following cartoon from the New Yorker:
Further explanation, in case “fusilli” is unfamiliar: That little piece of straight-edged macaroni is talking to these guys:
“Fusilli times” – a few kinks, and a perfect alternative to “cockamamy.”
thanks to cartoonist Charles Barsotti.
Hope you all have a great September. And remember to support your public and school district librarians.
Ann Dalton
Bonny Becker
Julie Paschkis
Julie Larios
laurakvasnosky
Margaret Chodos-Irvine
Books Around The Table 
Wonderful! thanks for this, Julie. Just Tuesday we were picking at Bybee Blueberry farm near North Bend — and of course we thought of Sal, eating her way down the rows.
I was thinking of all of you out at Mt. Si when I wrote that!
I’m a retired school librarian and loved reading to little ones … I used a PTA stipend to buy “backjack” chairs which the kiddos loved to sit in as they listened (you can google to see how wonderfully ingenious they are)
and yes to supporting librarians, who very much need it these days … I went to my local city council meeting recently, not because there was any “trouble” in our town, but to ask them to continue to support the library staff as reports of book bans in other localities might eventually make their way to us … there were residents in the room who were there to protest an incoming development and I was pleasantly surprised as they applauded when I finished my remarks … I left with hopeful tears in my eyes
Thank you, Liz, for visiting Books Around the Table – and thank you, too, for the work you did as a school librarian. Good for you, continuing to be engaged and active in supporting libraries. It can be overwhelming, trying to figure out how to help solve some of the problems outside our doors lately, but local city councils are proving to be an effective way to have our voices heard. To leave a city council meeting feeling how you felt – proud and hopeful – how wonderful!
It never occurred to me that of course Sal is a real person!
I know, right??? !!!