Thank you grandpa, originally uploaded by Leen…. Another lovely illustration by Aileene Posada. What a gift she has. Thank you, Aileen’s grandpa for giving her a love for books and thank you Aileen for giving the world this lovely art!...

Home sweet home, originally uploaded by Leen…. Could this *be* anymore perfect? Via Flickr: Lápiz editado. By: Leen (All rights reserved by original artist: Aileen...

I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves., originally uploaded by {life through the lens}. Another lovely bibliophotograph by {life through the lens} on flickr. Her work is absolutely amazing! I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~Anna Quindlen This is precisely how I decorate…should there be a new niche for architects and designers? Specialists who work on finding new ways to properly house, proudly display, keep our precious...

I wonder if we could use a form of soft-capitalism to pull or push the printed book back to the forefront, ahead of the e-readers and movies and iPods and games and reality TV. I wonder if we wished upon a star or as we throw our coin in the fountain…if we could preserve the beauty, the pulpy-scented goodness, or the comforting sound of spines creaking open for the first of future favorite book. Thank you mom, but you see… …it’s books I wish to grow upon a tree. No quarters nor papered riches for me, Just sprout a hardcover story, A printed forest grown organically, Within the bark and moss-covered library! I’m easy to please, a book or two or three. I love them like friends and, as such, react strongly to the thought of losing them. I found myself literally welling up with tears listening to my friend postulate on how the printed book will eventually disappear because of the electronic reading devices. I cringe at the thought of this. I have a Nook but it doesn’t stop me from buying real books. I use it more as a way to try out books… using the option to sample a chapter, then buying the book to add to my ever-growing, heavily worded book fortress. And here I am safe. I grew up in a world too harsh for children and lost myself in books. When everything became too much, it was between the pages of many a book that I found refuge. I believe where life failed to story me, books stepped in heroically and filled in the many gaps. I cannot imagine life without a book to fall slowly upon my chest as I and my wrist fall fast asleep. Or at night when the terrifying sounds ricochet off the spined shields of Hans Christian Andersen, Roald Dahl and Madeleine...

Two of my favorite things…