Pride

This is one of the most moving moments I've been able to witness. Over 300 Mormons marched in the SLC Pride Parade right behind the Grand Marshal. Over 300 Mormons were willing to set aside their Sunday morning to show their love for LGBT people. The applause and cheers this group got were the loudest I heard.

I'm so glad I got to see it. I wish I could have marched with them, but I had signed up a month ago to work at a booth for the library. It was so fun to talk to people and encourage them to visit their local library. A few people asked about this story, and assured people that the Utah Library Association would soon be issuing a press release in favor of the circulation of this book.

Between watching most of the parade and working at a booth for a few hours, I'd call my first Pride Festival a success.

Toddler reads

One of the downsides to working at MCC before it opened was seeing all the new books I couldn't check out! You better believe I had everything turned in before April 11th so I could check 30 items out on opening day. I had been in a bit of a reading slump this year and that quickly turned around. I hope to get back into writing reviews, or at least mini reviews of some of my favorite reads this year.

Another benefit of working in the library again is that Brayden has loved going to the library since I started working there again. Whenever I see promising picture books, I bring them home. I decided around May 7th to start keeping track of the books we read on Goodreads. We ended up reading 50+ books in May. I'm so glad he loves to read. Adam doesn't read much, so I've tried extra hard to instill a love of reading in him.

I thought it might be fun to list some of my favorites and some of Brayden's favorites and then the ones that we both love as well.

Mom's favorites

The Family Book by Todd Parr- I love Parr's books. Bright illustrations, tolerance, and compassion. Brayden liked it too and had such a big smile when I read about families liking to hug.

Life-Size Zoo by Teruyuki Komiya- Amazing up-close photographs. Brayden likes it too, but I think he'll like it more as he gets older.

Peek-a-Boo, I Love You! by Sandra Magsamen- Brayden picked this for me for my birthday. Aww.

Brayden's favorites

Birds by Kevin Henkes- Great illustrations, simple text. We read this one at least 20 times this month at Brayden's request.

No, David! by David Shannon- I think this book reminds Brayden that we love him even when he hears "no."

The Wheels on the Bus: A Read-Along Sing-Along Trip to the Zoo by Jeanna Willis- He likes the skunk verse the best- "The skunks on the bus go stink, stink, stink."

Universal favorites

Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas-  Brayden thinks this book is just hilarious. I like the simple introduction to rhyming.

Fiesta Babies by Carmen Tafolla- Fiestas and siestas... need I say more?

The Foggy, Foggy Forest by Nick Sharrett-"What can this be in the foggy, foggy forest?" Each page asks this and you see a black silhouette on vellum before you turn the page to see what it was.