I have a habit of giving books as gifts, especially to my nephews and niece. I was just talking to my sister about what my oldest nephew might want and she suggested his first Hardy Boys. So I went and looked it up and then I started to remember the books I read at his age.
Encyclopedia Brown. Boxcar Kids. Bunnicula. Nancy Drew.
I’m not going to lie, I actually got a little teary. Part of it was remembering how much joy I found in reading those books. But most of it was imagining the worlds my nephew has yet to uncover. All of these books! All of these mysteries he has yet to solve, the characters he’s yet to meet.
He has so much waiting for him!
Maybe buying books doesn’t make me the coolest aunt, but that’s okay because there will be those nights when he’s reading late (with his lego headlamp) and racing toward the end of one book so he can reach for the next… I just love that in some small measure, I’ll be a part of that moment because I helped start him on those journeys.
I can’t wait for his adventures to begin!
I have books that I've been putting up that I'm afraid I won't be able to find again, and thanks to Youtube, I've been able to watch some of my old favorite kid shows like Wishbone and That's So Weird with my niece! Totally brought me back watching those shows!
Any aunt who buys books is cool to me. I wish I'd had relatives who gave me reading material when I was growing up. Heck, I want those my long lost aunts and uncles to send me boxes of books now. LOL
I think it's awesome that you're sharing your love of reading with your nephew. Way to go Cool Aunt. =o)
Carrie,
I remember reading all of the books you mentioned, especially the Nancy Drews. I have a collection of the old tweed covered editions from the 1930s and 1940s.
When you described your nephew it reminded me of my girls (8 and 10) who I often find reading by the light of their lava lamps late at night, trying to read to the end of their books. I am often hesitant to interrupt them because I often find myself reading totally engrossing YA novels at 3am!