The Book Exchange

I'm sure we've mentioned the clothing exchange that Jack belonged to for his first four years.

From a couple of weeks before Jack was born, we gathered twice a year to swap clothes with a large group people, most of whom are friends from the local science fiction community. We passed along anything Jack had outgrown and picked up clothes in his new size. There were always far more than one child needs -- even when we were sharing the cache with another little boy!

It is an excellent idea with many advantages, and we really enjoyed our time with the exchange, but the time ha come to return any clothes we weren't using and drop out of the exchange. The main reason was that we are starting to prepare ourselves for our emigration, and that means jettisoning anything we can live without.

But that exchange was such a terrific idea that a couple of years ago, we joined a children's book exchange.

This one works a little differently.

Every few months, a tub (or two, or three) of children's books shows up on our doorstep.

We dig through the books, Jack chooses a few, and we put in a few books that we don't need anymore.

Then we call the next person on the list and get directions, drop off the tub, and we're done.

The tubs have multiplied over the two years until now there is one reserved for board books for babies and another dedicated to parenting books and chapter books for older children.

We have found some truly marvelous books in there! Jack knows that he may choose a few books, but that twaddle has to go back out next time the the tub comes. I have found some really interesting books for our "school" library. It also means that we're not drowning in books that Jack had to have at the library sale -- and never read a second time. It also means that really wonderful books that Jack has outgrown don't sit around unused - -they can move along to a new home and give another child great joy!

The tub recently arrived at our house and we have our work cut out for us this time!