The panablog Public Library

Thank you for your visit, panapals! And if you could just lower your voices, we'd really appreciate it!

Because today we proudly announce the official opening of the Jay and Julia’s House Branch of the panablog Public Library. The library´s collection – the most extensive of its kind in the entire district – was made possible by generous donations from the Jay and Julia’s Moms and Dads Foundation, and the moral support of panablog readers like you.

Anchored by international smash hits like, “Donde Viven los Monstruos” and “Se Venden Gorras”...:

...the library provides a great educational resource for the local childrens, and also helps us pick up useful Spanish phrases like, “¡Escúchenme bien, monos! ¡Devuélvanme las gorras inmediatamente!”

It is an unfortunate fact that for many of the kids around here exposure to books has been low enough that step one is an orientation session during which we cover: 1.) how to turn the page, and 2.) book layout (i.e. if you read what’s on page two first, you’re likely to find what’s on page three more interesting.) And some of the traditional library etiquette we’re used to doesn’t translate culturally. For example, the kids like -- and, in fact, often insist on -- reading the books out loud. Even if other kids are reading out loud as well:

From where I´m sitting, it kind of kills the library mood. I mean, one kid giving us story time is great. But if I´m trying to listen to Danielito so I can find out what happens to the butterfly in ¨Mariposa, Mariposa,¨ and Cirito's three feet away yelling about Harold and his stupid purple crayon, the magic is lost. We get it, Cirito. Harold likes to draw on stuff. Frankly, I´m a little bit more interested in whether the butterfly is going to marry the cat or the rat. But, whatever: sometimes you´ve got to be the bigger person.