Lessons From a Lost Library Book

In Sydney Taylor's 'All-of-a-Kind-Family,' the value of a book goes beyond the book itself to include the beauty of sacrifice, simplicity, and virtuous character

Cultivating selfless love for others in our children—and extending this love toward them, as well—is an excellent way to affect them and society by restoring some of the civility that so many of us pine for. (Ground Picture/Shutterstock)

The other night, my family gathered around and pulled out one of my childhood favorites for a read-aloud night: Sydney Taylor’s “All-of-a-Kind Family.” Set in the early 20th century, each chapter of “All-of-a-Kind Family” tells of the simple yet entertaining life of five little Jewish girls living with their parents in New York.

“I am almost inclined to set it up as a canon that a children’s story which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children’s story,” author C. S. Lewis once noted. I would agree—and extend that statement further to say that a good children’s story is one that teaches life lessons and provides applications to both children and adults. Such a definition would place “All-of-a-Kind Family” squarely in the “good” category, for I walked away with several intriguing life lessons on responsibility, sacrifice, and worthy role models from the first chapter alone.

Treasuring Simple Pleasures

The chapter opens with the sisters eagerly anticipating their Friday afternoon trip to the library, where they can each select one book. Only one sister—Sarah, the 8-year-old middle child—isn’t there. When she finally makes her appearance, her face is tear-stained because she can’t find the book she was supposed to return that day, a fact that fills the other sisters with dismay.

In a day when we have streaming services, digital apps, and online books galore, it seems almost ridiculous to see these five children so thrilled with the opportunity to go to the library and pick out one book per week. Yet, their joy in such simple pleasures speaks volumes to those of us who complain about the many problems in our country today.

Yes, the inflation, high prices in the stores, supply chain issues, and other problems are troublesome. But each one of us can get so consumed with what we don’t have, that we forget all the wealth and bounty that we do enjoy. Just as these five little girls rejoiced over their weekly library trip, so we, too, should train ourselves and our children to delight in the simple joys we encounter every day, giving thanks for the ability to get outside, walk into a store without wearing a mask, and rejoice over those leftovers in the fridge rather than wishing for a restaurant-served meal.

Instilling Responsibility

When the search for the lost book proves fruitless, Sarah’s mother insists that she must go to the library, explain what happened, and then pay for the lost item. “It’s only right,” Mama said. “You borrowed the book and that makes you responsible. ... I wish I could help you pay for this, but you know, Sarah, there’s no money for such things.”

We live in a time where nothing is ever our fault. There’s always someone or something else to blame for a less-than-desirable situation—the boomers, the boss, politicians we don’t like, an alleged disorder. We’re even quick to enable our children to follow in this pattern by making excuses for their actions, which only continues the cycle of irresponsibility in our culture.

Sarah’s mother, however, gives a simple pattern to stop such a cycle. She doesn’t coddle. She doesn’t make excuses. She doesn’t hold her daughter’s hand and cover for her. Instead, she makes Sarah practice responsibility at a young age, preparing her for a world that isn’t always fair, but one in which character traits such as responsibility make it a whole lot more bearable.

Role Model Opportunities

When the children reach the library, they are greeted by a new librarian, Miss Allen. Instead of scolding or harshly telling them they can’t return to the library until the book is paid for, she receives them kindly and sympathetically. She backs up their mother’s lesson in responsibility, affirming that Sarah must pay for the book, and works out a manageable weekly payment plan for the little girl. Such kind reception turns Miss Allen into an instant role model for the sisters, and the friendship that ensues eventually ends up repaying Miss Allen in a surprising way.

Today, young adults like Miss Allen don’t know how to respond to children. They often look at them as a nuisance, an interruption to their career, or as foreign beings whose whims must be pacified at all costs.

Yet, adults who will be a kind and loving refuge for children, rejoicing with them in their happiness and comforting them in their little sorrows, will find that children are an excellent avenue for expanded influence. The more influence for good an adult can be in the lives of children—whether through parenting or just through being an involved and loving adult figure—the more effect that adult will have on society. For those of us who want to turn the country around for the better, investing love and kindness by being positive role models for little children is one of the best ways to do so.

Civility Through Sacrifice

When Miss Allen tells Sarah she can give a small percentage of her allowance every week toward the book payment, the other four sisters gather around in whispered conference, finally agreeing that they, too, will bring the same amount each week to help Sarah pay her fine.

Here we have an example of Edmund Burke’s “little platoons” in action, the “first link in the series by which we proceed towards a love to our country, and to mankind.” These little platoons are what spur “public affections”—a quality lacking in today’s contentious society. Cultivating such selfless love for others in both ourselves and our children will go a long way toward restoring some of the civility that so many of us pine for.

Life in the pages of “All-of-a-Kind Family” seems very peaceful and simple, a dream world that no longer seems possible in the fast-paced techno-world we live in today. But perhaps that’s due in part to the fact that we’ve forgotten the beauty of sacrifice, simplicity, and virtuous character. Who knows? Working to build these in our own lives may just be the first step toward the restoration of a society in which the peace and order that reigned in “All-of-a-Kind Family” returns.