Once we knew the date our three kids were coming home, my oldest sister threw us a “baby” shower. The support was staggering. In just a few days, we were completely outfitted for an entire family. Bunk beds, a cradle, quilts, toys, clothing, shoes, diapers, bottles, and more poured into our house and our hearts. For weeks, items continued to trickle in from friends and our church community. We were awash with gratitude for all we had received. 

Along with the handcrafted gifts, can you guess what we treasured the most? A whole library of children’s books! They came from so many great families. We cherished those books because the new ones had been lovingly selected and the used ones had been loved on by our friends’ precious children. 

I knew I wanted to remember the source of each of the books. So I decided to write a to/from tag inside the cover of each one. I used what I had at the time, which was nothing more than blank address labels and a sharpie, unaware that such a simple thing could become so precious. In addition, I didn’t know that “mom brain” was such a painful reality! I’m grateful I was inspired to keep a record. 

As it turns out, I wasn’t the first person to think of this. Bookplates, or ex libris (Latin for “from the books of . . .”), were used clear back in the 15th century! Here is a fascinating brief history for those who dig this kind of stuff like I do. 

With five kids in various stages, we have continually returned to those first board books, picture books, and chapter books. My husband and I have felt a special connection with those families every time we’ve read the storybooks they gifted us. And the first thing our kids do when they open one from our home library is check the label. Hopefully, they also feel immersed in the care and acceptance showered on us when they glance at those tags.

The cradle, clothing, and diapers were used daily until they were no longer needed. Then we found them different homes (in some cases the trash). But we still have our dear library. The bestowal of books, of stories, of words is incredibly meaningful to me. It is the offering of communication and learning, the opportunity for cuddles and closeness, the promise of time spent together imagining, adventuring, feeling. So if you are fortunate enough to receive a book as a gift, I hope you will consider marking the inside cover with both your name and your friend’s. You will forever be reminded of their loving kindness. 

You can find all sorts of book labels to order in the form of stickers, stamps, or embossers. There’s no need to go all out; some simply use the address labels they have on hand. But if you’re looking for a bit of shopping therapy, a special gift for a friend, or if you’d like to attach tags to your own library of books, here are some links to peruse. Personally, I would recommend the labels. I selected those that were designed for children and had space to write who gifted the book, but you can find exactly what you want by doing a little extra digging. The stamps and embossers are merely for identifying the name of the owner. But that ensures they always get returned to you after they are loaned to a friend!

Labels

Ink Stamps

Embossers

What book do you treasure because of the person who gifted it to you? My answer is in the comments!

Happy book labeling!

Recently, I overheard one of our kids tell a friend that we were going to pick up some books at the library. There was an audible guffaw.

“The library? Who reads books anymore? That sounds so boring!”

The reply? “You’re talking to the wrong family.”

And my heart could have ballooned me clear up in the clouds. For one of my teenagers—who has struggled with a sense of belonging—to equate themself and reading to our family was a balm to us both.

You see, when my husband and I were unable to make any babies after being married for seven years, we figured we’d better find them some other way. Our plan was to adopt an infant to raise as our own. But when we were presented with the opportunity to adopt a sibling group of three young foster children, my inexperienced mother’s heart leapt at the chance. This was an answer to untold prayers, the filling of such a terrible longing.

The very first time we met our kids at the DCFS office, we played together, I fed them snacks, and my husband read them a book we had brought. Those three activities (playing, eating, and reading) seem to have stuck with us. They are a part of every morning, evening, and outing. Some of our kids can’t imagine getting in the car without a book in hand.

After raising our children for 10 years now and making mistake after mistake, I have to remind myself that their situation would (most likely) be worse had we not adopted them. They are wonderful, strong-willed, talented, creative, funny kids, each with their own struggles. In addition, one was born drug affected and consequently has had difficulty in nearly every developmental aspect.

“Through stor[ies] we seek to know ourselves and we seek to be known. Thus we become joined with others.”¹

As parents, we have checked all the boxes: reading various books, researching websites, seeing psychologists and numerous therapists (for them and us), and joining support groups. Unfortunately, none of it has resulted in an exemplary home life. We just keep trying our best every day. Same as you.

We did end up also making two babies, which was another miracle! We are truly blessed with our houseful of kids. They all come with challenges, but luckily we have earned honorary degrees in psychology and detective work.

With an actual degree in teaching, it has been an enlightening experience rearing both neurotypical and neurodivergent children. I look forward to sharing more of the lessons we’ve learned through our mistakes and our happy accidental wins, specifically when it comes to reading. Our older kids may not have our genes, but we all share a love of books, which has helped us to bond almost more than anything else. The author Julius Lester once wrote, “Through stor[ies] we seek to know ourselves and we seek to be known. Thus we become joined with others” (51).¹ I know you can harness that power for yourself and your children, as well.

Why does reading matter to you? There are a myriad of possible reasons (education, entertainment, and escape are just a few). But without a purpose or motivation for reading, it will be difficult to make it a priority. This week, I invite you to discuss this topic with your kids. Tell them why you believe reading is so important. Find or make a reason if you don’t already have one.

¹Lester, Julius. On Writing for Children & Other People. First Edition, Dial Books, 2004.

Photo Credit: Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash