Borrowing What You Already Own?

As much as kids enjoy experiencing and learning new things when they start going to school, they also get a huge amount of pleasure and comfort from familiarity.

Tomboy loves visiting the school library each week. Her favourite part of the visit is borrowing a new book to bring home for Mr T to read to her and her siblings at bedtime.

She has been especially excited about her book choices the last two weeks.

When I opened her library bag to see what story she’d brought home, I was a little confused. I lifted Rhino Neil by Mini Goss out of the bag and said, ‘We already own this book.’

I thought that maybe Tomboy had forgotten.

‘Yes! That’s why I got it,’ replied Tomboy quite proudly.

She was just as proud when she brought home Who Sank the Boat by Pamela Allen – another book that we already own.

Boywonder did the same thing last year when he started school. It might seem a little silly to borrow a book that one already owns, but that little bit of familiarity between school and home seems to boost their confidence.

Unfortunately, Mr T was a little disappointed when Tomboy didn’t bring home a new story to read at bedtime. Maybe I should send him to the local library to choose a couple of picture books for himself.