[Publib] children's books

[Edith Isele]

My gateway drugs were a 1950 set of World Book encyclopedias that my parents
had purchased for the older kids in the family since we lived so far out in
the country that we had no access to a library, and the Colliers Junior
Classics series.  I think the encyclopedias set me up for a lifetime
preference for non-fiction to fiction.  So many fascinating real things to
learn about.  My co-workers joke about my taste and consider one of my
favorite books: *Salt, a History*, to be the epitome (nadir?) of off-beat
reading.

The Junior Classics introduced me to BlueBeard the pirate, the girl who had
to wear a dress made of an old patchwork quilt, poetry, fairy tales, etc.
They provided many happy hours.

Like many others here, I have no clear memory of learning to read, but math
was more difficult.  One thing my mother said many times in my childhood was
"Edie, will you get your nose out of that book and ...do whatever task  she
had asked me multiple times to do?"  That must have set up a pattern for
life.  My husband just gave me a t-shirt that says:  As soon as I finish
this chapter.

Edith Isele
Assistant Manager
Outreach Services
St. Louis County Library (MO)
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