When a New Year comes around I tend to take on the attitude, “out with the old and in with the new,” as if there’s something wrong with the old and new is better.

 

But for those of us whose children are starting to put us into the old category, we know without a doubt, this is not the case!

When my four year old granddaughter explained her picture of me to my friend, I sensed no hint of negativity (except maybe for that one wrinkle). See how rosy she made my cheeks?

 

I decided to put aside this new-is-better attitude and enter 2019 with a different approach.

Instead of focusing on the new, I decided to looked for something new within the old. What could I appreciate if I took another look at the familiar? Why am I so quick to exchange what’s been around awhile for something new?

I went to my bookshelf and dug out some of my old favorites—the ones I have read to my children and now to my grandchildren. The ones they’ll get someday  . . . and I hope won’t throw away!

Have you ever noticed the time changing on the clock in Goodnight Moon?

Or the white terrier making his appearance in all of Chris Van Allsburg’s books?

Or the famous Frog and Toad in Anita and Arnold Lobel’s, To Market Street on the letter T page?

I dug a little deeper and learned . . .

It took a year and a half for Dr. Suess to write, The Cat In The Hat. We can at least honor that diligence with another reading! Perhaps its presence will remind us that in time all good things come.

H.A. and Margaret Rey fled Paris on bicycles shortly before Nazi Germany invaded France. They took their Curious George manuscript with them. How could I ever let go of my copy now?

Read the whole, remarkable story in:

According to Mental Floss, the earnings from Goodnight Moon went to Margaret Wise Brown’s young neighbor boy, Albert Edward Clark III. She had no children of her own. What a treasure for Albert . . . and for us. A bold reminder how a story can change a life.

 

Then there’s Alice in Wonderland, written by Lewis Carroll in 1865, which added new words to the English language (e.g., chortle: Lewis’ combination of chuckle and snort). It was banned in parts of China by General Ho Chien in 1931. He considered it an insult to the human race for animals to use human language. (Don’t miss a family read with this one. You’ll have more conversations than you’ll be able to dream up.)

For these and more check out: Fun Facts About Children’s Books

And for a little more nostalgia: 50 Essential Children’s Books

This year, depending on which statistics you read, there will be between 600,000 and 1 million books published in the US. More than 20,000 of them will find a home with a child. According to Publishers Weekly , the children’s book industry remains strong!

Whether we revisit the old or explore the new (or a little of both!), there will be plenty of books to keep us growing alongside the children in our lives.

There are always new things to discover in the old and familiar. Don’t throw out the old treasures for the new. Put them on your child’s or grandchild’s shelf, if you haven’t already.

I can see right now, I’m going to have to invest in another bookcase.

Happy OLD and NEW Reading in 2019!

What’s a favorite oldie on your shelf?