Most Saturday mornings after dance class, Briggs and I head to the library.  He lets me pick out his books for the week, which has become a real treat.

The only condition is that I can’t read the books I pick while we’re still in the library.  This way all three of us (Mom, Dad, and Briggs) get to discover something new.

This week all of my picks were pretty strong, but two of the five books really spoke to Briggs and me (I’m guessing for different reasons).

The first is a Caldecott Medal Winner: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback.  A wonderfully illustrated tale about how one man consistently discovers new ways to “make something out of nothing.”

And the second, a more modern picture book by Lemony Snicket, titled 13 Words.  It’s about a despondent bird who has well intended friends (a dog, a goat, and a mezzo-soprano), but is despondent nonetheless, and yet, there is still plenty of love and cake.

In a week filled with highs and lows and up and downs, snuggling in with my son before bed each night and getting a chance to dip into these worlds of Joseph and this despondent bird has created a welcomed and sacred space.

There’s something deeply moving and magical about reading aloud to someone you love…maybe it’s a good idea to do it more often.