I remember my first book loaned from the elementary school library.
The tiny library was in the vestibule of this classic red brick Dewey
school house set next to Poulda's cornfield. Maybe 6-8 classrooms, a
tiny gym, and a sparse playground with a scattering of Sycamores, and
the biggest swing set I had ever seen. Maybe it was first or second
grade. Our teachers were mostly the product of "Normal School." Miss
Thacher, from the newer "State Teacher's College," marched us down to
pick out one book, mediated and dispensed by volunteer ladies who
looked like the moms in the magazines. Our moms worked as waitresses,
nurse helpers, and in the J&J factories. Our older brothers and
cousins were destined for the USMC/Korea or the Navy if they were
brainy. A public library was a long bus ride away. Our battered school
books were from the 1920s.

I cannot remember how long it took me to find my book in this
seemingly large collection. But I still remember the book. It was one
of a series of Donald Duck travel books. In this one, D. Duck visits
Ecuador. The almost new book had a half dozen full color illustrations
and they were fabulous. Here is Donald, at the docks as bananas (!!!
food favorite alert) are being loaded onto a ship. Colors everywhere!
Parrots, jungle, beautiful reds, yellows, oranges and greens. I read
the rest of the series but checked out the Ecuador book many times
more and I can still see all those colors in my mind's eye. Thank you
Walt Disney.

Dave