Last Sunday afternoon, Ken suggested that Reid and I should clean up her bookshelves. He’d gone through the toys that used to live on them and but them on a different bookcase. I thought it was a great idea since it’s something that I think of doing each night when I see the books piled every which way.

We went up and I started pulling the books off of the shelves. I asked Reid to start gathering the Franklin books in one pile and the Clifford the Big Red Dog in another. I put the Christmas books together and also the other holiday books and then grouped hardcovers, softcovers, Dr Seuss and so on. Ken came in after a while and was surprised that book situation was worse instead of better. I explained my organization principles and he said, “I thought you’d take the ones that were in piles and stand them up.”

I like to be able to find the Easter books at Easter and books about mamas just before Mother’s Day and I couldn’t do that this year. Now, it’d be easy to lay my hands on just the right book, even the one where the groundhog lobbies for a whole month instead of just a day.

I’m trying to read each book once before repeating them. So far, Reid hasn’t asked to hear one twice. She tried to misfile a book that I’d chosen and she rejected, though, much to Ken’s amusement. I could put signs on the shelves but since Reid doesn’t read and wasn’t concerned when I explained the problem, I’m not sure it would help. In fact, Ken might mix them up just to drive me nutty. He’s like that, you know.

C’mon over and read a book whenever you’re free. We’ve got lots from which to choose.