Building Ming’s Library
At the Brooklyn Book Bodega
By: Alexus Colbert
Walking into the Brooklyn Book Bodega for the first time with my daughter, Taiming, felt incredibly welcoming. The suite was staffed by a friendly team who made check-in easy. After completing a survey about expectations for the program, name tags were handed out to both of us. Entering a room filled with more families, one of the instructors pointed out where breakfast was available. Settling in, food was grabbed, croissants, fruits, and juices were set out for everyone. About 15-20 other parents attended, each with their children, creating a sense of community. The experience felt even more connected once my younger sister arrived with her son.
Everyone there was friendly. One of the activities involved making a butterfly puppet, inspired by the book that had just been read aloud. The storyteller used a theater-like voice that captivated the room and was definitely entertaining for the children. It made me think about trying to read to Ming at home in the same engaging way. As the woman read, she walked around, showing the book to everyone and drawing the kids into the story. She even showed the book to my baby nephew, who was still in his stroller, which I appreciated.
The Brooklyn Book Bodega helps children build libraries at home. One reason for attending is to create a library for Ming, who loves books and enjoys reading bedtime stories. The experience will be especially valuable at home, as she learns new words from books, encouraging her to talk more. Expanding her vocabulary opens new doors for her. I’m also interested in learning new parenting skills from my experience at the Brooklyn Book Bodega.
The best part about the Brooklyn Book Bodega was picking out the books. The tall bookshelves stood out, filled with books for tiny hands to grab. Taiming took charge of most of the selections, running around and picking up new materials, then passing them over to be held. She seemed drawn to the colorful books, calling out, “Mommy, look!” It was a fun experience, especially when she needed help reaching some of the books on the higher shelves.
Our second experience with the Brooklyn Book Bodega was just as great as the first and this time my mentor Heather joined us. The check-in survey, sent via email, could be completed at home, which made jumping right into the activities much easier and more convenient. Breakfast was provided again, and two storytellers from the Brooklyn Children’s Museum led the morning. Another book was read, followed by an art activity focused on squares. Afterward, selecting more books for our home libraries was the highlight. Each visit we can choose up to 20 books to take home!
One of the books we’ve read at home is ‘The Rainbow Fish’ by Marcus Pfister. As I read, Ming insisted on getting up and grabbing a different book to sit down and read to herself. The fact that my daughter has so many new options of books to choose from is so special to me.
I appreciate what the Brooklyn Book Bodega is doing for me and my family. Both visits have taught me how to make a book come to life which I consider a very essential parenting skill. Taiming enjoys taking her artwork and new books home while my sister and I are excited to build new libraries for our little ones.
