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11 Simple Steps for Great Library Trips by Maria Oka

1/15/2015

8 Comments

 
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1)      Go to the library.

2)      Pull out your “must-read” list and start searching. Try to keep your 1-year old from pulling every book off the shelf. Fail.

3)      When the screeching and the book-pulling become unbearable, head to the checkout line with your books. Wait. Hear a couple “You’ve got your hands full!” comments (translation, “I’m glad I’m in front of you because, by the looks of it, it will take you 10 minutes just to find your library card!”)

4)      Take 10 minutes just to find your library card.

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5)      Head to the car with your reusable-shopping-bags-turned-library-bags. Notice that they contain all of the books your 6-year-old thought looked cool, all of the books your 4-year-old thought looked pretty, and all of the books your 1-year-old grabbed that you didn’t have time to re-shelve. Oh, and the few books that you managed to procure from your “must-read” list.

6)      Throw your library books on the front seat and buckle them up (to avoid the eternal beeping your car will make because it thinks your books are a human passenger).

7)      Lug your bags up two flights of stairs. This may take several trips and will most certainly be the best exercise you get all week.

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8)      Now for the fun part. Sit down and read. All of them. Right away. Because…NEW BOOKS!

9)      Make piles: 1) I cannot bear to read this again pile (hide these from your children), 2) This would never be published in today’s market, but I guess I can read it again pile (leave in library bag), 3) Adequate bedtime story pile (put on bookshelf in the kids’ room), 4) This is so awesome, I am going to type it up so I can study it later pile (stack on desk).

10)   After a week, find all of your books under beds, in backpacks, beneath couches, among the DVDs, inside pillow cases, behind the toilet and, if you’re lucky, on the bookshelf.

11)   Return and repeat.


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This post was written by Maria Oka, a mother of three very busy girls whose reading and writing spans from books for the very young to older picture books. Besides being interested in rollicking laugh-aloud books with her girls, Maria is also interested in children's books with a spiritual element. She reads, writes, and tries to juggle dinnertime, school schedules, and doing the dishes one-handed in Southern California, where she lives with her husband and munchkins. 

8 Comments
Diana
1/16/2015 02:55:29 am

This is my library trip every time! Except, sometimes I have one or two books to hide BEFORE we read them together because I didn't notice how terrible they were when the kids plopped them in my IKEA... ahem, I mean LIBRARY bag. :) But we love it!

Reply
Maria Oka
1/16/2015 11:54:18 am

YES! Or sometimes I start reading a book, and then say, "Sorry kids, I can't finish this one." (they usually agree). But if you go in with a plan, and sometimes even when you don't, you can find some gems!

Reply
Mandy
1/16/2015 08:51:38 am

Wow. I had no idea. Something to look forward to!

Reply
Maria Oka
1/16/2015 11:52:43 am

Mandy, get ready! The book-pulling phase will be here before you know it. ;)

Reply
Kirsti Call link
1/16/2015 10:39:22 am

Oh Maria! I understand. This is SO funny and true. Our library trips are the highlight of our week! LOVE this post and you too!

Reply
Maria Oka
1/16/2015 11:49:39 am

Thank you Kirsti! I was thinking of you and your brood when I was writing this. I'd love to join you on a library trip someday. ;) Love you!

Reply
Meg Miller link
1/16/2015 12:08:12 pm

This sounds Oddly familiar... :D Except I'd have to add at the end that our library has electronic checkouts now and so I'm constantly blocking the 3 year old's hand from randomly pushing buttons and restarting us. >_< I don't mind him helping, but yeesh, just wait a minute!!!

Reply
Maria Oka
1/19/2015 12:25:18 am

Meg, our library has not caught up yet, but I'll look forward to that! ;)

Reply



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  • Home
  • WRITING
    • Mastering Great Graphic Novels >
      • 2023 Mastering Graphic Novels Registration
    • Craft & Business of Writing Childrens Picture Books
    • The Chapter Book Alchemist
    • New!! Middle Grade Mastery Instant Access
    • 2022 Kidlit Palooza >
      • 2022 Palooza Program
      • 2022 Palooza Faculty
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    • NEW!! Craft & Business of Illustrating Children's Books Instant Access
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    • Our Bookshop
    • Come Play With Us!
    • Resources
    • Course Scholarships >
      • Yuyi Morales Picture Book Scholarship
      • Andrea Davis Pinkney MG CB Mastery Scholarship
      • Rafael Lopez Illustrating Childrens Books Scholarships
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