We have a library that sits about a mile away from our house. I went to it once, long long ago – even signed up for a card – and then I never went back. I couldn’t tell you why… I just didn’t.

With the start of the summer reading program and a Caillou episode about the library that got Eric begging to go, I finally went back there, this time with 2 little boys in tow.

Eric didn’t know where to start. I herded the boys over to the picture book section and set them loose. Eric just kept flitting around at first. “Mommy, look at this book! Mommy, I want THIS book! Mommy, I want to share THIS book with Danny!” He loved the stools that let him climb up and look through the higher rows of books, and even reach some of the books set up along the top for display.

He also loved that there were so many different places he could just stop and read, tables and chairs that were just his size, a circle full of giant pillows, or even just right in the middle of the floor.

Danny followed along quite diligently, trying to do everything his brother was doing. He’d climb up on stools after Eric did, even if Eric hadn’t gotten down yet. He’d trail behind and sit down at a table with him, pulling over whatever book was on the table and flipping it open and closed. There were also many windows around that he loved to stand at and look out, and a toy in one corner – one of those things with all the wires and the beads on them that you could push along their paths that – that he kept going back to and playing with.

All in all, they had a blast. Eric even got his very own library card, though when I asked him to pose with it, he stomped a foot and said, “Mommy, I don’t WANT a picture!”

When we finally got to the car, his first library book in hand and his card safely in Mommy’s wallet, he finally told me I could take a picture, then asked when we could read his book, and when we could go back.

We’re four books into our summer reading program sheet now, a little fish colored in for each book we’ve read together, Eric finding the correct numbered fish and scribbling over the number quite carefully. Of course, this kid hardly needs an excuse to read books, but I certainly won’t turn down a bunch of coupons for doing something we love to do anyway!