Loving books
Monday 
around lunchtime 
Mystie
Setting up a new house is a prime time to makeover systems that aren’t quite working. One I would like to adjust is our kid book storage and usage. My boys like to look at books. They will both sit and “read” for 15-30 minutes at a time and they love their books. They know, although I still have to remind them daily because they often act without thinking, that books are not toys and books should not be left on the floor, but even when they are intent and treating the books well, they can still wreak havoc on the poor covers and edges. They don’t tear the pages when they turn them, but just in their carrying the books to and from the dishpan that I keep them in, and in trying to return them to it, they wear those books down.
So, the question is, do I let them love their books, even if it means they will need to be replaced by the time Jaeger can actually read them? Do I restrict the use of the books to totally supervised time with an overbearing mother correcting their every rough movement? Do I no longer allow Hans to take books into my bedroom for a solitary quiet time because the books will inevitably wear down faster? Do I sift through the books and allow them to destroy love only some and keep others only for Mommy reading time? I don’t know. They are not wantonly destroying them or being purposefully hard on the books, they are just using them as best they can and they are only almost-2 and almost-4 — and boys.
Any thoughts?
(MCL)
with 
(personal library)
I believe at this age, it is more important to instill the LOVE of books and reading than preserving the books. My suggestion is separate out the books that are “dear” to you and only allow them during Mommy time. Leave the others to be cherished and loved and used and “abused”. My experience has been that a cherished book will last for one child, period. The best books will be replaced and updated for each child, and that child is allowed to absorb and love the book for himself, without having to worry about keeping it nice for the next sibling. Thankfully we live in a country where children’s books are very inexpensive. If it is important for you to have a nice copy for your library, buy two copies, one for you and one for the child. Then it is one less thing to fret over.
love you,
Connie
I forgot to add, that Alana absolutely LOVES her picture books and at 18 months old is already on her second copy of some of her favorites!!
Maybe I’m underestimating Hans and Jaeger’s destructive potential, but I think you’re underestimating the books. : ) We still have most of the books that we read when we were kids that Hans and Jaeger now look at when they’re at Nana’s. They’re not in perfect condition, but they’re still sturdy and usable.
I just came across ‘The Do Something Day’ again when cleaning up last night. : )
Geoff, I know. I was wondering how in the world all those books are still intact! It seems that some of our books already look like the books in Nana’s collection, though. :)
I think the Frog and Toad books need to sit in a box under the dictionary on the move, perhaps. They are so well loved that the covers are bent open. :) — “Blah, said Toad.”
I agree with everything everyone else wrote- most books are pretty sturdy :-) Do sort out anything you just love and want to last forever and let them go with the rest. Think of the velveteen rabbit.