Beautiful poetry at library via Friends of the Senior Center

No question about it: The Flying Pig Bookstore is the place to be on Indie Book Day. There, I found “Blooming Beneath the Sun,” poems by Christina Rossetti with intricate collage art by Ashley Bryan on display.

This copy of the cover does not do justice to the brilliance of Bryan’s spectacular peacock. In his autobiography “Words to My Life’s Song,” Bryan remembers how much his father loved birds. With bird cages lining the living room, he remembered “cages with over one hundred birds: canaries, finches, warblers, parakeets.”

As it happens, years ago I had a “connection” with Bryan. I attended one of his talks, where he described how, in his many travels, he always took books to give to children who lacked ready access.

At the time, I was book reviewer for a national teacher magazine, and so I began sending children’s books to Bryan. He’d pack books up for his travels, and then, when he got home from a trip, he’d write me a few lines about the joy of children receiving books to keep.

Ashley Frederick Bryan, the recipient of many book awards, was born in1923. He remembered his childhood in the Bronx as an idyllic time. Think about two important facts:

• Bryan found wonderful books at his public library.
• Bryan learned to draw, paint and play musical instruments at public school because the federal government’s Works Progress Administration hired artists and musicians to work with children in those schools.

In its tenure the WPA spent $10,500,000,000 and employed 8,500,000 people. In New Deal programs, unemployed Americans planted 3 billion trees, constructed over 620,000 miles of streets, built 46,000 bridges, restored 360 Civil War battlefields, put up more 65,000 buildings, stone monuments and murals, and worked with many children in schools.

Most of the jobs were in construction, but some 10,000 artists were employed to create arts and crafts, easel paintings, sculpture, graphic art, posters and photography. Nearly 850 artists were commissioned to paint 1,371 murals, many installed in post offices across the country. It was a great example of government by, with and for the people.

Ashley Bryan was mentored by some of the 8,500,000 people who found employment in this federal outreach.

Although this wonderful WPA program has never been replicated, Charlotte is fortunate enough to have three very attractive places where our children can find good books: Charlotte Central School on Hinesburg Road and the Charlotte Public Library, 115 Ferry Road are both book treasure troves.

At the Charlotte Public Library, you can find book recommendations for children and for teens. Look at some recommendations online. And walk inside to get personal recommendations from the experts inside.

Charlotte’s third great book resource for kids is the Little Free Library for Kids at the Grange, 2858 Spear Street. There, children from babies to teens are invited to find a treasure to take home and keep — or bring back and get another one from the ever-changing supply. The Little Free Library for Kids structure was designed and built by Stuart Robinson. Note that, as part of his Eagle Scout project, Stuart carefully designed this structure to reflect the historic architecture of The Grange Hall.

Located in front of The Grange Hall, the Little Free Library for Kids is open all the time and is supported by the Friends of the Charlotte Senior Center and The Flying Pig Bookstore. Many will remember that The Flying Pig got its start here in Charlotte, and so it is fitting that this great resource for books, now in Shelburne, is where the Friends of the Senior Center purchased Ashley Bryan’s book as a gift to the Charlotte Library.