Slice of Life: KCLS, How Do I Love Thee?

Today I join my fellow bloggers in "serving up a slice" 

to the Tuesday Slice of Life (SOL) community.

Thanks to Stacey, Betsy, Dana, Beth, Kathleen, Deb, Lisa, and Melanie

                    for hosting this meeting place each Tuesday and nurturing our writing lives.

When I count my blessings, libraries are always in my top ten (honestly they are right up there after God, family, friends, sleep, and chocolate)!  How can I help but love an institution that brings books to everyone?  How can I help but love a gathering place that immediately warms my heart whenever I step through its doors?  And so I want to share my gratitude for KCLS (King County Library System) during this season of thankfulness.  

Last month I stumbled across a list of Picture Books about Refugees created by Erica at What Do We Do All Day.  Our church was hosting a speaker from the International Rescue Committee and I thought how appropriate to have a display of books to share with families about the refugee experience.  I popped over to my online library account and requested the books.  Every single book arrived on my holds shelf ready for me to pick up within the next few days.  And this is where I have a small confession to make - yesterday all those books were due back at the library - and even though I'd been meaning to read the books in that bag, it wasn't until this week that I finally got around to reading them.  All of the books are wonderful, but here's a pic of my favorites.   And my very favorite book of the bunch?  My Two Blankets!

Last week I subbed in a 7th grade classroom.  One would think that a substitute only needs her lunch and a small bag, right?  Only I took a lunch, a small bag, and my rolling carry-on bag filled with picture books.  And not just any picture books, but the top illustrated children's books of 2016 as selected by the NYT.  After viewing the list online, I headed to my KCLS account to request the titles.  And last week I watched seventh graders read those books, sometimes poring over the pages with a friend, and my heart was happy!  I still haven't read all of them, but my favorites so far are these two.  

And last night, I put together a basket of board books in preparation for Teddy's first visit to our home.   My daughter told me a few months ago that while I have a plethora of children's books, my collection of board books is woefully inadequate.  No more!  I purchased these books from our Friends of the Library book sale this fall.  

KCLS blesses my life in so many ways:  last month by providing books for a display about the refugee experience, last week by providing the best illustrated children's books of 2016 for me to share with seventh graders, and last night by providing a bonanza of board books for grandson Teddy's visit!  And did I mention that yesterday I picked up two flyers when I visited the library?  One to share with my book club today (a chocolate- making workshop) and one to remind myself about one of my favorite events of the holiday season (a visit to our library by the Dicken's carolers, sponsored by our Friends of the Library group)!