There is nothing like Story Hour.
Sitting with children, reading a good book, and watching their faces for their reactions.
The attention span of a child, is so very short…which means I must be prepared.
The wheels in my head, turn all through the night…thinking, planning...
These days, there is much to compete with…
Princesses and Ponies and Minions and Wizards…
This is how I prepare.
I take a hot bath, with a cupful of Epsom salts and a few drops of
I don a
that is long and full and quite princess-like..
I tie the silk ribbon ties to these
…
I will be talking and laughing and stealing a bite of sugar cookie or a sip of water
so I apply the most
, in the softest
….
I pack a tiny basket purse with my tiny mousies, handkersniffs, lotions, miniature nantucket basket,
tiny Bible, and a tinkling brass key…
I make copies of pages from
And I wait…
There has been a table prepared for me…
most of my books are there…
and I will sign them..
AFTER the story hour….
There is a stage.
I am tall.
They are small.
So I lift a tiny bench up onto the stage
and pull it close to them…those tiny little ones.
And the performance begins.
I introduce them to John Jacob..Eliza's friend…
and find a young boy who will hold onto him with great care….
And then I introduce Eliza…and try to explain why I just can't get her to take off that tutu and tiara..
….and as I pull the tiny articles from the tiny basket purse, and distribute them amongst the children..
I am thankful for the opportunity to bring joy,
to share a comforting story,
to encourage a young girl who is heading into third grade….to hold her hands as she tells me she plays the piano, and she doesn't like to climb trees, but she likes to read…
to share with her that I began playing the piano when I was in 2nd grade…
I am thankful that I am able to look into the most adorable little face of one wiggly little toddler…catch her gaze, and read to her…as if no one else is in the audience…to let her know how special she is.
I am thankful for a little boy named Simon, who sat so still and listened so intently and was so proud when his name was drawn from the cup….
and I signed his name and mine on the
…
I am thankful for teenage girls who came to my table …who write and illustrate and dream of being authors, one day…
who linger and talk and share stories…and hug…and say kind words…
and whose parents are encouraging and inspiring…
I am thankful for a sister who comes at the end of the day, who takes my great big portfolio of new illustrations and text and looks over it all with her trained editor eyes…
Each of us amazed at the other's talent and gift…
And for parents who have entertained a busy little girlie so their daughter can do what she is called to do, there just aren't enough words to express my gratitude.
On the days that I wish I lived in another time…a simpler more innocent time….
I am thankful that a big
would invite and welcome an old-fashioned girlie mouse...
would add my little books to their shelves…
and would say, "Come back, again, for Story Hour."
