Library Love

A couple of weeks ago, Coda came home from school and asked to go to the library. He was so excited, and so was I! What was even more exciting is that he wanted to get a chapter book. Sweet! My first grader wants a chapter book! When we got to the library I showed him where all the 1st-2nd grade chapter books were at. He began grabbing one at a time, flipping through them to see how many pagers were in them. "I don't want these chapter books," he said.

I was really confused, so I showed him another series of chapter books. Same thing. After my patience was spent, I finally snapped. "What do you mean you don't want these? What other chapter books do you want?!" (I tried really hard to to yell. I did that whole "talk through clinched teeth groaning" thing.

Coda walked over three rows and grabbed a juvenile book. I tried to explain that he was to young to read so much, but that was hard! I finally said, "What first grader do you know that can read this?"

"Kaitlyn," he said, as a matter of fact.

"Hmm...well she's smarter than mommy!" Then I told him to put it back and maybe next time we would get it.

To make a long story short, I convinced him to get "Nate the Great" and he LOVED it! (We got three more today!)

So, today we ventured back to the library. After picking our books, Coda decided he wanted a science book. You see, he understands the computer and the library catalogue, but I think he thinks there is some magic to it. "Can't you just put in 'science'?" Well, yes and no. Explain that to a six year old!

We found science experiment books, but they were upstairs in the adult section. There was no way I was going to have him trying to convince me to do something in those science books. (Science was always my worst subject.) And there, On aisle 302-604, my little boys world came crashing down. My patience were spent, but I tried to remain calm. We finally went back to the children's section and asked a librarian. She so kindly showed us were kids science books were and informed me that the library's catalogue search engine was not the best. Hmm, really? (the kids science books never popped up when I searched "science experiment" or "elementary science".) We made it home, science book in hand. And I've assigned Daddy as the science specialist!

Oh yes, we LOVE the library, but I'm beginning to wonder if the library really loves us.