I grew up in a home filled with bookshelves overflowing with books of all kinds. My father found time to write and tell wonderful bedtime stories to my sister and me throughout our childhood.
He loved to read and was an amateur historian. Our mom was an academic and her textbooks lined the bookshelves. The home I share with my husband Greg and our four children, now young adults is overflowing with books.
When our children were little I created a library of favorite children’s books to enjoy reading together. There were certain books from my childhood which I had wanted to revisit with my children but could not remember the titles or found they were out of print. I wanted to be sure all of the children’s books we loved were physically part of our home.
I’ve discovered I am never too old to enjoy a beautifully illustrated picture book! Reading an illustrated picture book from front to back is a calming activity. Sometimes a child or a group of children is sitting next to me and we read together. There are busy moments when I pass the bookshelf lined with the books and choose an illustrated favorite picture book to enjoy…just for me….knowing I can do this from start to finish, with time to spare. I begin to read and suddenly the child within me who always wants to see our world through fresh open eyes is happy to receive… in one sitting…. an entire story. It comes to life in my mind… and in my heart. In just a few minutes, the story has nourished me, beautiful and complete.
Have you recently given yourself the gift of reading a beautifully illustrated picture book?
One of my favorite books to read to my children when they were young is You Are Special by Max Lucado. To this day I am still awed by the amazing message and beautiful illustrations in this book. Recently I found my daughter, who is 21, reading it! Illustrated books definitely stand the test of time.