The Possibilities of a Handwritten Name My sister was born almost three years ahead of me. When we were children, that age difference meant my sister enjoyed many privileges before I did. And then the day came when my sister was handed her first library card. She took her pile of books, wrapped in her arms, up to the library desk. She could check them out in her own name. It was exciting and important. I had to experience that for myself! Seeing the yearning in my eyes, I sti

When L. M. Montgomery published Anne's House of Dreams in 1917, she was far from home. Like all her books, Anne's House of Dreams is infused with the author's love for a small island. A place of winding red roads and a wealth of lighthouses, Prince Edward Island is described so lyrically in Montgomery's writing that I feel her deep connection and love of place along with her. When she wrote this entry in her journal on June 1, 1909, she had no way of knowing she'd be leaving

My husband and I can never resist a sign that says “library book sale.” On an autumn afternoon filled with brilliant colors and summer-like temperatures, we followed the sign, wondering what books we might find this time. Peter and I walked into a small library in Burlington, Washington. Recently built, it is graced with high ceilings and sunlight streaming in through large windows. We had a good feeling as we headed to the book sale area. After the volunteers greeted us, we

"Still round the corner there may wait, A new road or a secret gate." —J. R. R. Tolkien Question: What do these baby raccoons have in common with author J. R. R. Tolkien? Answer: Curiosity. And, for Tolkien, that curiosity sometimes led to disappointment...at first. Along the way, though, unexpected new roads and secret gates gave Tolkien his own fascinating path to travel. The following is my tribute to J. R. R. Tolkien as we celebrate Hobbit Day during the month of Septembe

What can the height of a table tell you? Walking into a special children's library of long ago, a small table could tell you a surprising story. At the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, the Children's Building housed a garden playground on the roof, a wondrous collection of toys from different lands, and a library filled with treasures. And, in that welcoming library, low tables stood at the best height for children to use. Scattered across the tables were bright, current

Close to five thousand miles—across an ocean and the third largest continent—that's how far the book in my hands had traveled. On a rainy spring day, I'd just started browsing in a used bookstore, looking as always for an unexpected treasure. I saw a familiar author and reached for the book. What I discovered, however, was more than I imagined. When I opened the cover, I found an inscription left by, almost certainly, the first owner of the book: G. A. Ives. And, I found that

Mary Stewart Moment #1 I had a delightful and unexpected “Mary Stewart" moment this week—a perfect way to celebrate the author’s birthday anniversary on September 17th. In my previous blog post here, I’d named Mary Stewart as my favorite author to reread. Hiking along a trail a few days ago, I stopped to admire a butterfly. Fortunately, I had my camera with me and the butterfly obligingly posed for a series of pictures. Returning home, I meant to do some research and see what

Have you heard this beautiful song, a favorite of mine, performed by teacher and musician Earl Grant? As the lyrics unfold, the singer contrasts his feelings of love with things that must come to an end. A rainbow, a river and a highway all have a stopping point. The one thing in the song that resembles love? A story. Earl Grant At first, a story seems to be one of the experiences that will end—when the last page is turned, there's nothing more to be told. But the next words

Discovering Narnian Treasure I walked in the fragrance of a hundred Christmas trees. On my way to the mailbox, living, sun-warmed cedars lined the path and dropped their needles, creating the scent of the holidays with each step I took. Everyday journeys have become an adventure since I moved to a Pacific Northwest forest. On this particular afternoon, I discovered a key when I opened my mailbox. What package had arrived? I bent to insert the key in the parcel locker. The spa

Please welcome Mary Elizabeth Brown, our guest blogger today. Mary is a musician and writer who is currently working on an historical novel. In a small bookshop, Mary once discovered a story that came to have deep personal meaning to her as she faced a difficult challenge. Please read on to see Mary's story... The allegorical book, Hinds' Feet on High Places, rocked my world during my first semester at Multnomah University. I had spent my previous year of high school on home

The heady scents of wisteria mixed with orange blossoms in spring... When I opened my window as a child, these are the fragrances that greeted me. We called our home merely "The Place." An orange grove sent out its fragrance just beyond my bedroom window. In the stillness of morning, On summer mornings, I ran outside to pick an orange, ripe and sweet, right off the tree. As I held it in my hand, I could feel the warmth of the sun on it. Even as the city crowded around my chil

It began with a small painting. As legend tells it, Samuel Clemens saw a miniature of Olivia Langdon when he met her brother, Charles, aboard ship in 1867. Samuel instantly fell in love with Olivia's likeness in the tiny painting. Seeing the "real" Olivia for the first time made him sure he'd found his future wife. It took Olivia a little longer to decide she'd found her future husband. But Samuel was persistent. He stayed for 12 hours the next time he called on the family. T

Like Alice's adventures through the looking-glass, Emily Dickinson's life is full of contradictions and illusions. I originally intended to write about literary friendships of the two-legged variety, but I became intrigued by a different kind of literary encourager. And Emily's special companion was an especially interesting and endearing one. I knew very little about Emily Dickinson before this week--just the usual: a mysterious, reclusive poet with only one fully authentica

Lucy Maud Montgomery felt a chill when she opened the door to the clothes room. It was an early spring day on Prince Edward Island in Canada. Although the frost had started to lift, the unfinished room in the attic made her shiver. She stepped inside, seeing the usual cast-offs her thrifty grandmother could not bring herself to discard. Her gaze fell on a hatbox among the jumbled items. She reached out, and then her hand paused. Raw discouragement filled her again as she reme

"...for Assateague belonged to the wild things, and the wild ponies whose ancestors had lived on it since the days of the Spanish galleon." Perhaps nowhere else in children's literature is the idea of freedom versus captivity for animals so movingly explored as it is in Misty of Chincoteague. Written by Marguerite Henry, the story begins with the strange cry of a stallion locked in the hold of a Spanish galleon. As the stallion tries to free himself and his mares from the con

Would you pay money to spend a vacation washing windows, mowing the lawn, weeding, polishing brass and painting objects high above the ground? Your answer might just be "yes." "What's the attraction?" writes Elinor DeWire in Sojourn at the Lighthouse. "It's the chance to experience something unique, something as close to being a genuine lighthouse keeper as you can find in the modern world." Sojourn at the Lighthouse is Elinor's story of her week as a volunteer lightkeeper at

In between picnics, fireworks, and being out in the midsummer sunshine, the 4th of July weekend is a great time to relax and enjoy a favorite movie or pick up a new book. Whether you are taking time out in a hammock to read or getting together with family to watch a movie after a barbecue, here are some top picks for celebrating this American holiday... Featured Movie: Yankee Doodle Dandy One of the best patriotic movies ever made, Yankee Doodle Dandy is also the most fun. Th

The Velvet Room is a surprising and wonderful book I never wanted to read again. When I discovered the book at the age of ten, its spare and elegant words drew me in from the beginning. The story seemed to live in a place of its own—a place radiating the magic of old houses, set-apart rooms and the love of books. It was a story I never thought I could visit as an adult and find that special feeling again. But because it was so special to me, I kept the book through the rest o