Styling Librarian: Hong Kong: A Bookstore and Library Visit

It is so wonderful when you find book friends on the shelf in a place where you’re feeling sort of isolated and ready for some interaction… A book is a terrific place to start!  Well, I knew something was bothering me since I’ve been in Hong Kong. I usually don’t go two days without visiting either my local library and/or bookstore. I will never be able to replace the instant gratification of placing books on hold at my library in Oregon nor visiting one of my favorite people at Powells Books in Beaverton, but I needed to get to a library or bookstore here in Hong Kong. My intuitive husband knew this. Somehow, he read my mind before I realized it. So, today, after we had an interesting lunch at a Thai Fusion Restaurant, we wandered around the malls in Aberdeen, Hong Kong. We found toy stores, grocery stores, appliance/furniture stores, and then stumbled across a book store. (Happiness, Joy!) There were only a few books in English, the rest was all Chinese- fascinating selection. Large portion of the Children’s Area was actually study materials/guides. We picked up a ‘how to draw’ book that was in English/Chinese for the kiddo.

Then, we went on to this local open-air mall market we visited the other day. We were on a mission to get some flip-flops for our little guy and a hat… On our way there, my husband pointed out the local Aberdeen Library was in the same building as the market! This was one QUIET library. I was ever so happy to visit the children’s book area and see a whole six rows of it full of books in English- fiction, picture books, non-fiction, etc. I didn’t see any graphic novels, but I did see some of my favorite books and authors, thought I’d show a few random shots I took there as well:

My fantastic husband knew what I’d want immediately: A library card application! We have to find our apartment and get a bill delivered to it first in addition to getting our official Hong Kong id cards!

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And on to the favorite books and authors:

I love Judy Cox’s books! This is one of my favorites-Weird Stories from the Lonesome Cafe- plus Meg Cabot, Sharon Creech, and other treasured authors’ books are nearby. Interesting that grade levels are quite mixed.

Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel – this book has been one of my favorite SciFi/Fantasy books for years, plus I found the rest of the series interesting…

I adored reading The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger- first time on my own, second time as an audiobook with my son, both times = fantastic experiences!

Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein – I LOVE reading this book aloud. I NEVER tire of reading it aloud. Kind of like Elephant and Piggie by Mo Willems, voices simply come alive with both.

I admit it, I’m a bit of a nut about reading all of Kevin O’Malley’s books, Backpack Stories is no exception. My favorite book by him is Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude- one of the best read aloud books EVER. My students beg me to read it aloud, over and over… and then fight for who gets to check it out as well!

Oh, how I adore Jon Klassen’s book I Want My Hat Back. Success reading this one with every grade level. Cannot wait for the companion book.

So happy to find Little Pea on the shelf! A very good librarian friend and I bonded over the love of Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s Little Pea, Little Hoot, and Little Oink. We just loved the messages sent in addition to the adorable characters and illustrations. We loved reading them with our little ones, who have now grown up quite a bit! 

It is so wonderful when you find book friends on the shelf in a place where you’re feeling sort of isolated and ready for some interaction… A book is a terrific place to start!

 I was so happy when my little guy immediately picked up a book and began reading. Think he was excited to see “new” books to read as much as I was! And also relieved to find some in English!

Shhh signs and other friendly signs around…

I thought this reading challenge was quite cute. Only slightly disorganized part of the library. Love that kids entered the books they read and that some illustration entries as well!