Maggie Mae and the Lost Library Book

Maggie Mae loved to read. Every day she would go to the library with her mother and borrow lots of books.

Today was a big day for Maggie Mae. Maggie Mae was going to library to get her very own library card. She was so excited that she was old enough to sign her own name and have a card of her very own.

“Hello, Maggie Mae,” said Ms. Birdie the librarian. “May I help you?”

“Today is a special day,” said Maggie Mae. “I can write my name so I can get my own Library Card.”

Ms. Birdie handed Maggie Mae a form. Her mother wrote her name and address and Maggie Mae proudly printed her name in all capital letters.

“Congratulations!” Ms. Birdie said. Maggie Mae had a big smile on her face.

“How many books may I borrow?” Maggie Mae.

“As many as you can carry,” said Ms. Birdie with a smile.

Her library card was her prized possession and she kept it safe and sound in a little red case in her little purple tote bag.

Maggie Mae sat in a cozy cushion with her mother and read together.  She took ten books home that day.

Maggie Mae loved to read. She would look at the pictures and tell herself the story even if she didn’t know the words.

“That’s a picture walk,” her mother said. “Good for you, Maggie Mae.” Her mother was a teacher so she knew those things.

Maggie Mae read to her little brother, Beau. Maggie Mae read to her stuffed bear Bogie. Maggie Mae read to her friend Mugsy. She brought a book to the dinner table and read a story to her mother and father. She always had a book with her.

That night after Maggie Mae brushed her teeth and got ready for bed, she put a stack of books on her nightstand.

She was reading Aesop’s Fables. She loved the stories of all the animals and how they tricked each other and solved problems.

“Good night, Maggie Mae,” said her mother as she came in the room. “Time to go to sleep.”

“Goodnight, Mommy,” said Maggie Mae as her mother kissed her on the forehead and turned out the light.

As soon as Maggie Mae heard her mother go down the stairs, she pulled a flashlight from under her pillow. Maggie Mae stuck her head under the covers and started reading again.

Maggie Mae’s mom came up to her room and saw a big tent of the covers and smiled. She didn’t say a word.

The next day Maggie Mae packed a bag with books and an apple. She walked to the park and sat on a bench.

Lots of kids were on the swings. It was hot so she just sat under a tree.

Maggie Mae read fables, fairy tales and her favorite mysteries.

“Maybe I will be a detective,” she said to her mother.

“Why not?” her mother said. “Girls can do anything.”

Maggie Mae liked hearing that and smiled.

On Friday, Maggie Mae saw a big truck pull up on her street. It had a big sign on it: “Spring Lane Library.”

“That’s the book mobile,” said her mother.

“It’s a little library on wheels,” said Maggie Mae as she went inside.

“Hello Maggie Mae,” said Ms. Birdie. “Welcome! May I help you find some books?”

Maggie Mae picked up The Little Red Hen and her mother began to read to her. “No one wants to help her,” said Maggie Mae. “They are not being good friends.”

Maggie Mae knew that book, but she loved hearing it over and over. Her mother read it to her and she heard it at story hours.

“Where is The Story of Ferdinand?” Maggie Mae asked. She liked that book very much too. Sometimes she felt like Ferdinand the bull just sitting by herself under a tree and smelling the flowers.

“And Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present. I would like that, “she said. “Sometimes you don’t have to buy a present. Sometimes there are things right in front of you and you can be creative.”

Maggie Mae checked out those three books and a few more.

The next week on Friday when the book mobile was due on her street, Maggie Mae gathered her books to return them.

Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present went in the tote bag along with Ferdinand, Blueberries for Sal, another one of her favorite stories, Harold and the Purple Crayon and The Little Engine that Could. “One, two, three, four, five,” she said counting the books as she packed them in the bag.

“Where is The Little Red Hen?” she asked her mother when she realized one was missing.

“I don’t know,” Maggie Mae’s mother said. “Weren’t they all in your room?”

“I thought so,” said Maggie Mae.

Maggie Mae looked under her bed. No Little Red Hen.

Maggie Mae looked in her closet. No Little Red Hen.

She looked in her toy chest. No Little Red Hen.

“Where can it be?” asked Maggie Mae.

Maggie Mae looked under the sofa. No Little Red Hen.

Maggie Mae looked in the kitchen. No Little Red Hen.

Then they heard her little brother Beau in his room. “Not I!” he said.

Maggie Mae and her mother peeked into his room. And there was Beau turning the pages of The Little Red Hen, saying “Not I! Not I!”

© 2019 Ronni Diamondstein, All Rights Reserved