Kids Say the...Well, You Know

Did you know that the Appleton Public Library has a jungle? To most of us, that area of trees, plants, and flowers at the library entrance is called the atrium, but to children it’s been “The Jungle” from the first day the library opened. Likewise, did you know that the library has an alligator? It’s in that little room beside the stairs that takes people from one floor to another.

Children have a unique way of looking at the world. There’s a story, perhaps apocryphal, of a child waiting in line with his mother for help. The woman in front of them was, well, of considerable girth. She was also wearing a pager. When the pager went off with a loud beep, the child shouted, “Look out, Mom! She’s backing up!”

During story times, the staff of the Children’s section here at the library frequently must deal with children who want to share their enthusiasms, regardless of the story time topic. Comments such as “I’m three,” ”I got a baby brother,” or “I’m going to visit Grandma today,” are prone to topple out at any moment, along with less agreeable subjects, such as the dietary preferences of pets, the health woes of parents, and that perennial favorite, Mom’s age (“My Mom is 40 years old, aren’t you, Mom?”).

On the same theme, one schoolgirl approached a librarian with a big smile and said, "You know, you're really pretty for someone your age." The librarian didn't have the nerve to ask her how old the girl thought that was. That was probably for the best, as she might have heard anything from 15 to 150.

Children don’t always share our concept of time. When playing the Summer Reading Game, one child was assigned the task of reading a book of historical fiction. “Oh,” he said. “You mean a book about yesterday.” Technically accurate, I suppose, but the selection of available novels is probably rather limited.

Some children like to get right to the point. One little girl noticed a small detail on a necklace worn by the librarian who was helping her. Impressed by the observation, the librarian said, “You have sharp eyesight.” The girl’s older sister looked down at her with a grimace. “And sharp teeth, too.”

Other children display a budding interest in science. One Saturday morning, a young boy was noticed pulling a chair up to the copy machine. When asked if he needed help, the boy’s brother replied in a serious tone: “He wants to make a copy of his head.” Well, you know what they say about two heads…

Children don’t always put up with our attempts to mollify them. When a little girl visiting the Children’s Room fell down, her mother was heard to say, “Oops! Good thing the library has carpeting.” Rubbing her knee, the girl said, “Yeah, but it’s hard carpeting.” Nice try, Mom.

Sometimes children have a completely different take on things. After having read Joanna Cole's book Bony-Legs, a mother was overheard discussing the story’s child-eating witch with her son. “Wasn't it awful of that witch to eat little children?” asked the mom. “Yeah,” said the boy, thoughtfully. “She could get cavities.”

Finally, like the rest of us, children are prone to forget. After story time one day, a group of children lined up to chat with the librarian. When it was time for the last boy in line, he said, "I forgot what I was going to tell you. If I think of it later, can I call you?“