We know it is finally midsummer with the arrival of the Annual Pequot Library Book Sale.

This sale is the largest in New England. Thousands of book lovers come from the surrounding areas, some as far north as Massachusetts and New Hampshire, some as far south as New Jersey. The tents are filled with dog-eared and beloved books on every subject. Booksellers, book lovers and book browsers peruse the books, each searching (and finding) those unique volumes that will inspire and delight.

These past three days we went to the Pequot Library and set up a lemonade stand in rain and sunshine.  We all huddled under an umbrella as it poured and were still huddled under it for shade when it was sunny.  We made $212 by selling lemonade, different kinds of cookies, brownies, and cupcakes.  I enjoyed making the brownies with my two little brothers and sister.

 On the last day of the sale we used our money for a great deal: $5 a box! We bought 40 boxes of wonderful children’s books, over two thousand books filled with facts, fiction and fantasy. We chose classics, illustrated novels and inspiring picture books. Many of these books we have read and loved ourselves.

The volunteer cashier was very impressed and asked to have a picture taken with us. She wrote down the quote on the back of our shirts, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free,” by Frederick Douglass.

Soon we will pack up the boxes and ship them to different parts of Africa, with the help of a donating corporation.

My favorite part of this process was giving a cookie and lemonade to our first customer, a little girl with a beautiful smile.