As we pulled in our driveway, we saw our neighbors from down the street approaching the little library that stands in our front yard- a neighborhood landmark at this point. As we grabbed all the pieces of the day that we had collected in the car, we walked down the driveway to greet our friends, filling the library with books.
As we stood chatting one of the kids pointed something in the library. “Is that a feather?” He asked. We all peered in. Sure enough? There was a feather sticking down from the top of the library. A closer inspection revealed what appeared to be a nest.
“That’s an interesting spot to build a home,” I replied as I began wondering what we should do about this development.
We stood chatting for a few minutes, when all of a sudden a bird jetted out from the nest, surprising us all. The bird must have been waiting for a moment to escape as we all stood huddled around its home.
A few days later, we met another set of neighbors out by the library. “Do you know there is a nest in there?” She asked.
I told her that we had discovered the nest and I wondered if the bird had laid eggs, so I was hesitant to remove it.
“Oh there were eggs alright!” She said. “You can hear the chicks cheeping in there now.”
I moved slower and sure enough, heard the sweet chirps of baby birds.
In the days that have followed, I have been aware of the flutter of activity at the library as I come and go. I see birds entering and exiting, arriving with twigs and treats.
The idea for a picture book keeps crossing my mind, every time I see the birds coming and going. I imagine that these birds know the magic of a good story and thought the library would be the perfect place to raise their babies. Maybe someday that idea will fully hatch… For now, we will continue sharing our library with the birds.
Where There Is Joy 
What fun, and what a great idea for a picture book. Write it!
LikeLike
Keep thinking about the idea of turning this into a picutre book! I think you are on to something. Fav Line: we grabbed all the pieces of the day that we had collected in the car
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, this is such a delightful post! I’m entranced by the idea of this bird choosing the little library to nest and raise its young. It is a fabulous idea for a picture book, and one I hope you pursue.
LikeLike
Oh, yes! Birds of a feather in a library – – what a lovely picture book to “hatch” as you think of all the things these birds would know and be able to do just from the stories mama bird shares with them. You have a way of seeing life through the eyes of a writer, and I love that you see a book where others see only the nest of birds. So much depends on the eyes of a writer beside a nest of baby birds…….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jessica,
As I read I thought “perfect picture book,” and that book needs to include all the bird books the nest builders love, such as “Are You My Mother.” I can see this book of yours illustrated by Melissa Sweet, and if you don’t want to write the book, I do. I’m so excited about this idea!
LikeLike
Oh thanks! Maybe I’ll make it a summer project! I love your ideas. I think Melissa Sweet would be perfect!
LikeLiked by 1 person