Tomás and the Long Walk to the Library

A friendly story about books, careful borrowing and a very big first card.

Tomás was five years old, and today he was getting a library card. He had practised writing his name three times: T, O, M, A, S. His mother had helped with the little line over the A.

They walked down the street, past the bakery and the blue letterbox. The library had big glass doors that slid open all by themselves. Whoosh, they went. Tomás giggled.

Inside, it was cool and quiet. There were shelves and shelves, all full of books. Some were tall and thin. Some were fat and round. Some had shiny covers, and some had soft, old ones.

A librarian with silver glasses smiled at him. “Hello,” she whispered. “Are you here for a card?” Tomás nodded very hard. She gave him a form, and he wrote his name, with the little line.

A moment later, she handed him a small, bright card with his name on it. “You can borrow ten books at a time,” she said, “and bring them back in two weeks.” Tomás held the card in both hands.

He wandered through the children’s section. He found a book about diggers, and a book about whales, and a book about a rabbit who lost his hat. He could not decide, so he picked all three.

At the desk, the librarian scanned each book with a beep. Beep, beep, beep. “Look after them,” she said, “so that other children can enjoy them, too.” Tomás promised.

At home, he made a cosy corner with a blanket and a pillow. His mother read the whale book first, and then the diggers. By the time they reached the rabbit, his eyes were closing.

The next morning, Tomás put the books in a special basket by the door, so he would not forget. In two weeks, he would take them back, and pick ten more.

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