The Library

The American Library in Paris was started in 1920. Though aesthetically there is not much indication of time period, the feel is quaint. The books are all old favorites minus a few new popular ones. The "film" we show at the end of each story time is actually a slide projector and a tape player played simultaneously by the librarian. On Wednesday we watched and listened to "In the Night Kitchen." The woman's voice and music were as funky and strange as Sendak himself. I wanted to get up and get my groove on to "Milk in the batter, milk in the batter... in the niiiiiiiight kitchen." Helen is the children's librarian who I am working under. She cannot be described in American terms as nothing fits her so well as the word "lovely." The only problem is I enjoy talking to her so much a hardly get any work done!

Helen took me on a "field trip" to La Joie par les livres: www.lajoieparleslivres.com. It is France's national depository for children's books. I had read about it and was planning to visit, but I am so glad I had Helen as an escort. She got us a tour with the director and translated for me. They collect all children's books published in France, plus some from a number of other countries. The artwork on the walls alone was enough to make me renounce the English language and my American citizenship, and wish with ever bit of my being that I could speak French and work in the EU. Librarians who work there review all of the books for library publications. Dream job.