All in a day's work

You know what gets on my nerves?

These kids:

"I've read all the Harry Potters and Lord of the Rings and Eragons."

And then, a blank stare while I feebly fire recommendations against their absolute surety that there's nothing else worth reading in the entire building.

But once in a while, an I've-read-all-the-Harry-Potters patron turns out okay. More than okay. A sweet little fourth grader was just in ... after I'd piled her with The Star of Kazan, Walk Two Moons, The Penderwicks, and Masterpiece, I paused, cautiously, with Those Other Kids in mind, "You can look through them and decide which one you want." She giggled. "Oh, I'll take them all. I just love to read."

Did I mention she was adorable?