It's Never Too Early for Books

Forty-five minutes in a mall.

My husband was due for a haircut, and I had time on my hands. Malls make me nutty. They’re not my thing. But then I remembered: malls have bookstores.

I raced up the escalator and spotted a Borders Express. My friend’s baby shower was coming up and instead of registering for onesies and diaper pails, she was having a “build a library” shower. Each guest was supposed to bring their favorite children’s book.

(Isn’t that a GREAT idea?)

I skimmed the shelves: Where the Wild Things Are, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Runaway Bunny. How would I ever pick?

“What are you doing?” I heard a familiar voice ask. I looked up at my husband. Had it been 45 minutes already? I was sitting on the floor with a pile of old favorites next to me, and I was still warming up.

“Here,” I said, handing him one from the stack.

“What’s The Giving Tree?” he asked.

“You’ve never read The Giving Tree? You must read it right now! It’ll only take five minutes. You might cry.”

Five minutes would buy me more time. I was still agonizing. Should I buy Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day or The Very Hungry Caterpillar?

Goodnight Moon or Bunnicula?

The Monster at the End of this Book?

“Does he grow old and get buried in the trunk?” my spouse asked. He was halfway through The Giving Tree.

“Not exactly, but close,” I said.

Ends up my friend received two copies of The Giving Tree at her shower, so I guess it’s good that I didn’t buy it even though I love the story. I decided to go with an environmental theme (The Lorax) and added in one more Dr. Seuss book for kicks (My Book about Me) just in case the baby inside my friend is a budding memoirist.

What was your favorite book as a child?