The Book Fair

Yesterday, I went to help at the book fair at Elias' school.  Something I swore I wouldn't do because I didn't have the time & I didn't want to find a sitter for Bella.  But when I was in the school office on Monday, the librarian said she didn't have anyone helping on Wednesday afternoon and that Bella would be more than welcome to come with me, so I caved and went anyway.
Last year when Elias was in pre-school, I couldn't wait to help at the book fair.  I was so excited to help children develop their love to read at a young age the way I did.  My parents were not big readers.  An occasional magazine here and there, the Bible occasionally or a devotional.  But I don't remember either of them sitting down with a book - fiction or non-fiction.  But I don't remember a time when I didn't love books.  I got more excited over books and going to the library as a child as I did going for ice cream.  I loved the smell of books, the way they felt in my hands when I would hold them to read them, the way my teachers would hold their books to read from them, the sound of the pages turning...all of it.  And the book fair was like the Super Bowl of books for me.  I remember how excited I would get walking into the library to display after display of brightly-colored, shiny covered new books and the smell was something I will remember forever.  The biggest reason I got so excited was that kids who were on the free lunch program were allowed to choose one book for free.  These honestly were the only new books I think I ever owned as a child.  Occasionally my parents would allow me to get used books at yard sales, but our budget was way too tight to buy books that could just as easily be borrowed from the library.  I would search in wonderment through all the stories and pictures.  Looking for just the right one to call my own.  It was so difficult narrowing my choice down to one.  It was almost painful for me to leave the "runners-up" behind.  I would take care of my chosen books like they were a sacred treasure and analyze each picture and read the words over and over.  To this day, thoughts of the book fair still warm my heart, as crazy as that sounds.  I don't know where my love affair with books started, but I have purposely tried to instill the love of books and reading into my children.  I started taking Elias to story time at the library when he was just a toddler and we have just as many or maybe even more books in our house than toys. 
So back now to the Watson book fair.  I loved helping out, despite my busyness and having to keep an eye on Bella at the same time.  Bella did very well and I think it is good for her to see me helping out children other than her and Elias.  There was this little girl there who reminded me of myself - not in looks, but in the way that she seemed so drawn to the books and literally was unable to make the "wish list" that she was supposed to make because she was just too busy looking at all the books.  She kept asking how much this book or that book was or if there were any books for which she didn't need money.  I could tell that she knew that if she had to have money for them, she would not be getting any books.  I so wanted to tell her, "You just choose any book and I will get it for you."  But then I realized that there were probably many, many other kids just like her who wanted to get a book just as badly and I couldn't buy all of them one.  I am reminded of the quote that I have heard many times, "Do for one what you can't do for all." and I am considering calling the school to see if I can purchase a book for this little girl and maybe a few other kids.  I don't know what the policies are or if it will be possible, but if I could give even just one or two children the excitement that I felt about the book fair, it would be worth it.