I’VE ALWAYS LOVED to read.
And I’ve passed that love of reading on to my three children, two of whom are now adults and one who is 17. They are all readers.
Even before my girls started school, I read the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder to them.
Every summer, the folks of Walnut Grove, Minnesota, produce an outdoor pageant based on Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books. Many pageant attendees arrive at the show site dressed in period attire and then climb aboard a covered wagon prop there.
Then I read the Betsy-Tacy book series by Maud Hart Lovelace to my girls. I even nicknamed my second daughter Tib, after the curly-haired, fun-loving Tib in Lovelace’s books. To this day, our family occasionally, fondly, calls her Tib.
A snippet of a mural by artist Marian Anderson in the Maud Hart Lovelace Children's Wing at the Blue Earth County Library in Mankato, Minnesota. The painting depicts the main characters in Lovelace's books, from left, friends Tib, Tacy and Betsy.
Now that I think back on those days of snuggling on the couch with my two girls and later with my son, I am impressed that these preschoolers would sit still for long chapter books. But they did. Of course, I also read picture books and easy-reader books to them.
Long after my trio stopped sitting on my lap or leaning into my shoulders, listening to the stories I read, they continued reading.
Even my boy, my teen. This surprises me. At 17, he still pops out the leg rest on the reclining couch, stretches out his lanky body, grabs a book and reads. For hours. He also reads in bed when he should be sleeping.
There was a time, during his elementary and middle school years, when I checked under his bed for a flashlight and books. He got smart to that and simply hid them elsewhere. So I stopped searching, not wanting to squelch his love of reading even if it meant he wasn’t getting enough sleep.
Today he still reads when he should be sleeping. While I encourage him not to read into the wee hours of the morning, I can’t exactly stop him.
Right now he has two dozen science fiction books stacked in the middle of his bedroom floor: I, Robot and Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov, The Invisible Man and The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, Ringworld by Larry Niven, 1984 by George Orwell, Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein…
Science fiction books stacked on my teen's bedroom floor.
Some of the books have copyrights nearly as old as me.
My son found these books at a used book sale sponsored by the local branch of the American Association of University Women. The AAUW holds the sale annually to raise funds for local reading projects. It’s a worthy cause.
Well, Saturday, we “donated” $25 to the cause, dropping that amount for a box full of two dozen science fiction books, a Star Wars video, two Bach CDs, a nonfiction book about Iowa and a vintage elementary school textbook. The last two items on that list were my selections. I seldom buy books for myself, preferring to check them out from the library because I’ll read a book only once. My teen will read a volume multiple times.
I picked up a 1951 edition of this children's textbook at the used book sale. One of the women working the sale said she used it in her classroom and really liked the book. So did I. But I purchased it for the beautiful vintage art.
I found this brand new book for my niece, who will graduate from high school in about a month. She will attend an Iowa university. I thought she might enjoy this children's nonfiction book that will introduce her to her new home state. Either that or she'll think her aunt (me) is crazy for giving her such an unusual gift. If anyone else wants an Iowa book, you'll find a box full at the sale.
Typically I would not pay $25 for nearly 30 used books, some of them well-used. But how could I deny these books to my teen, who said he can’t even find some of the older books in the library system? Yes, he has a well-used library card.
The older women working the book sale seemed impressed with my gangly teen who managed to fill an entire cardboard box with books. They even offered him a several-dollar discount when I told him he would need to pay half the cost of the books. I only thought it fair. I’ve never been the type of mom to buy my kids something simply because they want it. The son didn’t argue.
I had to restrain myself from buying an armful of children’s picture books. For years I bought used books for the library at the Christian day school my children attended. After I stopped volunteering a dozen years later, breaking that buying habit took a bit of resolve.
Since I passed on the many fabulous children’s books, I did the next best thing. I e-mailed two friends with young children and encouraged them to shop at the sale.
HOW ABOUT YOU, do you buy books at used book sales, garage or rummage sales or elsewhere? Have you always loved to read? And, if you have children, do they also love being read to or reading on their own?
FOR ANYONE WHO lives in the Faribault area, today, April 20, is the final day of the book sale, which runs from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. in the old Hallmark store at the Faribo West Mall. I’m pretty certain you’ll find plenty of deals on books as the AAUW will just want “to get rid of” their remaining inventory.
© Copyright 2011 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I love Little House on the Prairie books. I have always been a big reader. I used to go to library sales and book sales and load up on books.
For my 40th birthday, Roy bought me a Kindle. I didn’t think I would like it. I loved the feel of a real book in my hands. I got over that thought quickly. Its thin and fits in my purse. I can read if I have to wait for someone. I don’t have a ton of books laying around that I’m not reading. I love my Kindle.
My son has mentioned wanting a Kindle. I bet, tech savvy teen that he is, that he would love this gadget. But for now he has that stack of books to read…
Yes, have always loved to read..of course Little House books are my favorite..have not read the Betsy-Tacy books…seems like there are so many books and not enough time to read. I belong to a small book club and has been interesting choosing and reading books that I would never consider. We just finished Peace Like a River, by Leif Enger from MN…and our bookclub had the South Dakota retired state librarian come and discuss the book with us…We asked her what her all time favorite book was and she said Little House books! Such simple books…yet obviously so powerful. I generally buy childrens books at the thrift stores, and my daycare kids can read/look at them any time..we do a lot of reading…I also go to my branch library and load up on books to read to the daycare kids. My own kids enjoy reading, but not to the extent of your son…thanks Audrey and have a great day! We are finally getting some sunshine!
I agree, Bernie, that there’s never enough time to read. But it sounds like you make time and what a great daycare mom you are to read, read, read to “your kids.”
I read Peace Like a River quite a number of years ago and remember really enjoying the book. Minnesota has so many really good authors.
It’s interesting that the “Little House” books are favorites of so many of us. I have such fond memories of the teachers at Vesta Elementary School reading those and other books to us each day after lunch. I’m sure you have some of the same fond memories from school.
No sun here, Bernie, so please send it our way.
Laura Ingalls Wilder is my all time favorite author. I have read each of her books too many times to count. Her stories and words are timeless and generationless.
Laura Ingalls Wilder seems to be a favorite of many Minnesota Prairie Roots readers. I was fortunate to grow up only 25 miles from Walnut Grove. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize during my childhood the significance of this. I think once the television show aired, Walnut Grove, and the books, grew in popularity.
As for me, I’ll take the books any day over the show. I’ve only ever seen a few episodes. The show was too Hollywood for me and didn’t follow the books closely enough. I mean, mountains in Walnut Grove? Not!
Katie, if you’ve never been to Walnut Grove, make the trip there. I highly recommend attending the outdoor pageant in July. But my favorite place is still the dug-out site along the banks of Plum Creek just north of Walnut Grove. It’s so quiet, peaceful and absolutely prairie beautiful.
Oh yes, I have ALWAYS been a reader. I even got grounded from reading when I was 10 years old because I was ignoring everything else going on with the house and my family in my obsession. People who’ve never met a truly avid reader can’t imagine such a thing, but now that I know my oldest daughter, I understand why my mom had to do it 🙂
Ah, yes, the things we understand and learn when we become parents.
Great to hear you’ve passed your love of reading on to your oldest daughter. I’m sure the other three will likewise love to read.
Reading….what would life be without it. I get to travel to great places, meet interesting people all the while with my feet up in my queen chair. I’m so happy that mom and dad (when he had time) read to us. To think that I was held back in 2nd grade because I couldn’t read. Now I read 3-5 books a week and would read more if I didn’t have to work. My favorite book is “They loved to laugh” by Kathryn Worth and “People” the series by Zena Henderson
Yes, we were so blessed to have parents who instilled a love of reading in us. I remember how Mom would let me order a book from the school book order and how I couldn’t wait for that book to arrive. I’m sure Mom and Dad didn’t really have the money (even if it was only 45 cents or 75 cents, or whatever), but I was never denied the opportunity to order a book.
My one wish during childhood was to live in a town with a library. Vesta still doesn’t have a library. But at least the bookmobile comes to town occasionally.
My daughters and I started a Betsy-Tacy book club at the Gaylord Public Library. We have had such fun playing paper dolls and making sand art-just like Betsy and Tacy. The next meeting is Tea with Mrs. Benson!
Elizabeth, I read about this in The Gaylord Hub and was so excited to learn about your club. Good for you. The children of Gaylord are very fortunate to have an enthusiastic leader like you among them.
Have you been to Mankato yet to tour the houses and also visit the Maud Hart Lovelace Wing at the library? Your book club should take a field trip there.