Summer is library book sale season in New England, and today I went fishing for treasures and got completely carried away. Again. Under my too-large stack of children's titles, I weaved down the sidewalk to the car, stopping along the way for a cold Coca-Cola because I needed some quick energy. I'm coming awfully close to literary stage mother. Again. Wheeeeeee, look at all these great books for me, myself, moi my son, wheeeeeee!
That said, my best find was the anthology From Sea to Shining Sea: A Treasury of American Folklore and Folk Songs. The illustrations are by Caldecott winners and honorees. So now not only can I treat my family to my reading "Paul Revere's Ride" and "Brer Rabbit in Mr. Man's Garden," I can also bewitch them by pounding out "The Rock Island Line" on the piano. And please don't tell me anyone would rather hear Dan Zanes' version of "Rock Island Line." I won't believe it. What happened? Why is everyone running from the room with his hands over his ears?
At the sale I also couldn't resist the paperback The Dumb Bunnies' Easter, written by Sue Denim and illustrated by Dav Pilkey, because it had a medallion on the front cover that said, "This book is TOO DUMB to win an award." One of the endorsements on the back quoted Kirkus Reviews, "Let's not elevate this by calling it wit." Both of those quotations tickled me. My son was happy to get a copy of Max and Ruby's First Greek Myth: Pandora's Box. Since he's already read all the Edith Hamilton, we might as well move on to Max and Ruby. Ha. He's new to mythology, and I think some beloved characters can introduce him to it.
I vow not to get carried away at book sales any more. I'm going to buy only wonderful things in pristine condition if I buy anything at all. Really.
