Sunday, September 5, 2010

The best thing I've ever overheard.

I'm in Lowe's, and there's a girl -- about 10 years old -- behind me in the aisle with her mom. I hear her say, "I'm reading while I'm walking, so you gotta be my eyes, Ma."

I turn around, and there she is, walking and holding a book open, about midway through. I grin like an idiot, I'm so gleeful. Her mom says something I don't catch, probably about waiting til they leave the store to continue reading, and the girl goes, "But it's getting really good!"

I just about die of joy.

I get a quick glimpse of the cover -- Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen.

This is why we write.

15 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness! I do that all the time! When I got my hands on Mockingjay last week, as soon as we had paid for it, I was already reading through it walking out of Borders with my mom and sister. It was hilarious because I've learned how to read and walk without getting distracted. That little girl is awesome! :)

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  2. My oldest just told me this was a good book two days ago. What a great thing to hear. It definitely isn't common for kids to read anymore, especially while they're walking around!

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  3. That is just SO CUTE. Warms my cockles. I saw a teenage girl with a copy of Mockingjay this week and that just thrilled me too.

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  4. I love this. In an age where technology rules, seeing children absorbed in a book is just so heartwarming.

    Your post reminded me of something I observed several months ago. We were out food shopping and a young boy was begging his mom to go to Barnes and Noble. I smiled, remembering when I was a kid and how I loved to go to the bookstore with my mom and sister. Instead, the mother snapped at the boy saying they didn't have time to go to bookstores. I felt bad for the kid. It would be a shame if the kid loved to read but the mother didn't value it enough to nurture it...

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  5. I love when you find little kids reading! That little girl sounds too cute :D

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  6. That is amazing! I work with kids and I just challenged them to read as many books as they can for the next two months and I will give them jamba juice gift certificates. Nothing like a little bribery...almost all of them signed up! Too many kids are playing video games and not reading now, its sad :) I would have grinned like an idiot too.
    Have a great day!

    Danielle@:

    everylastpage.blogspot.com
    danielledorewriting.blogspot.com

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  7. That's is AWESOME.

    By the way, I discoverd reading in bummper-to-bumper traffic while driving--not a good idea.

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  8. Exactly, Donna. Exactly. Adorable situation and you got right to the heart of it.

    Back when each Harry Potter book was being pubbed, we'd see a lot of kids start to read the book the second they got their hands on it. They'd be walking out to the parking lot and reading at the same time.

    It never gets old.

    And, oh, I love all of Carl Hiaasen's books.

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  9. That was so me growing up. I once sprained my ankle because I was reading a book while hiking in the woods. Not a good plan, in hindsight.

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  10. LOVE that this made so many other people happy!

    Savannah - I turned down plans with friends to read Mockingjay. I had to wait til after work to start reading it, and it almost killed me.

    Liz - Yes! And about that boy -- hopefully he has an awesome school librarian or encouraging teacher!

    Kim - I know! She made my night.

    Joanne - That must be one of the best things about working in a bookstore!

    Everyone else -- I responded via email! :)

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  11. By that age, I'd so mastered the art of reading and walking. So much so that my teachers used to send me on errands to marvel at it!

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