I hopped into the bookstore today. I am on the prowl for a book to present my daughter for her 6th birthday. It’s sort of become a tradition. It all started with “Fancy Nancy” when she turned one. I knew she couldn’t read the book, of course and I was equally concerned that she would rip and dine on the pages. But I purchased it anyway. “Fancy Nancy” has come to be one of our favorite literary characters. For awhile, Jane O’Connor (author of the FN series), had a new book out every spring just in time for my daughter’s birthday. Not so the case this year.
This, I might add, was my second trip to a bookstore in search of just the perfect book for my little spring-let. A girl whose birthday falls close to Earth Day and also enjoys all things of the great outdoors, I was determined to find a title to go along with that theme. Or, perhaps I should stick with the party theme this year–painting.
Alas I found it–Marc Brown, creator of the “Arthur” series has a new book out–“Arthur Turns Green.” Hummm…is she too old for Arthur? I picked up the book, smoothed the title and cracked open the cover. Maybe. Oh, wait–Marc Brown will be in Naperville to meet, greet, and sign books? Hummm….on April 11th? Okay! I decided it would be a mother-daughter pre-birthday outing. We’d have Marc Brown sign the book, I’d snap a photo of the event and adhere it to the inside of the book. Done. A memory, a keepsake, and it represents my daughter’s interests. And it’s all about literacy. What more could a 6-year old want?
