Debbie Macomber is a number-one New York Times bestseller and the author of more than 100 books, including the just-released Christmas novel, CALL ME MRS. MIRACLE. On this special Saturday, Debbie remembers the first time she asked Santa Claus to bring her books…and the amazing (and incredibly famous) librarian who helped her find them. I was four or five years old the first time my mother took me to our local library in Yakima, Washington. It was one of the old Dale Carnegie libraries built of stone, and to my active imagination, it resembled a castle. Even then, as young as I was, my mind conjured up a story: I pretended I was a princess about to meet my Prince Charming behind the walls of this wonderful castle.
Mom brought me and my little brother to the library for story hour. It was the first time I saw books, real books other than the Golden Books. (Remember the cardboard ones of long ago?) It was pure love the minute I held one in my hands for the first time. In fact, my mother said that when the librarian gave me my first book, I grabbed hold of it with both hands and immediately pressed it against my heart. From that day forward, I refused to go down for a nap unless I had a book or a magazine in my hand. Come to think of it, I'm still clinging to a book at bedtime.
That Christmas, when it was time to give Santa the list of toys I wanted, it wasn't dolls or roller skates that I asked for. No, it was books.
"Books?" my mother asked.
"Books with words…and pictures."
I remember my mother bought me HEIDI by Johanna Spyri and three or four others that have since disappeared from my mind. I can still see the picture of the girl on the mountain with a goat (I think it was a goat!) in my mind. The words were completely lost on me, but I sat for hours turning pages, excited that someday I would be able to read all those words.
That wonderful librarian opened up the world of books to my eager, young mind. She let me hold my first book, and I will never forget her. Actually, you might have heard of her yourself. Her name is Beverly Cleary.
Photo Credit: Nina Subin
Join the Bookreporter.com Holiday Author Blogs again tomorrow as Heidi W. Durrow shares the joy of a double Christmas.
