Guest Contributor: Harbor Librarian, Tricia Klosky

Next week is the school book fair, one of my favorite events of the school year. I am filled with anticipation when I see the list of books coming from Child’s Play. There are fabulous picture books, exciting chapter books, enticing nonfiction books and books to keep and treasure for years to come. I love to be at the book fair on Tuesday morning when the students come in, class by class, and wander around the tables looking for books they want to put on their “wish list.” To see their excitement and enthusiasm is heartwarming for me. I love books and I want the students to love books too. I want books to take the Harbor children to new places, to pique their imaginations, to tell stories that touch their hearts, stories that they will want to read over and over again.

There is something special about the feel and smell of new books, the anticipation of what story lies inside or what new things can be learned from this book. Books are an ancient form of passing down knowledge, tradition and culture. There are folk tales and fairy tales and Harry Potter and Charlotte’s Web, which celebrates its 65th anniversary this year. There are National Geographic books about nature and DK books on just about every subject you can think of, all with glossy pictures and interesting prose. There are books about dinosaurs and the Titanic, atlases of adventure containing the whole world. I could go on and on, but you get the picture!

So bring your children to the book fair next week and immerse yourselves in knowledge and fantasy, beautiful illustrations, gorgeous prose and wonderful stories. Buy lots of books, support the library and the teachers, and support the Harbor School, a school that pledges to give the very best to your children each and every day. Discover the lure of books again, real books with paper and print. With daylight savings time ending this weekend, few things are better on a cold, dark evening than curling up with a good book.

Happy reading! Mrs K