Carroll Pulis, well-known Mancos (and Arizona) children’s book author, will be at the Mancos Public Library at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1, for the “Little Kids Story Time.”

She will be reading from her children’s book, “Lightning Reed – A Very Fine Steed.” Bring all the little ones to hear about that neat horse.

Let’s talk about books. Do you remember the first book someone read to you or that you read yourself? I don’t, but I know that I could read by the time I went to first grade. (Schools in California didn’t have kindergarten in those days.)

My dad had worked for two years in a print shop, and he had me throw the type. Anyway, first grade: blackboard, little tiny chairs to sit in, and a lot of kids who sat in those little tiny chairs, and a great big, tall, stern-looking woman who apparently was our teacher. We were all scared to death.

She showed us a book and told us we were each going to read a sentence and handed the book to the first boy in the room. He stammered and fussed and finally said, “I can’t read this.” he next girl said the same. The third one was me, and I read the first sentence. The teacher looked at me and said, “Read another.” I did. She then grabbed the book, flipped the pages, and threw the book back at me and said, “Read the first sentence.” I did. Grabbing the book she said, “Have you memorized this book?” “No,” I answered. “I’ve never seen it before.” Her ranting and raving led me to cry, and some of the others were crying too.

The rest of the day has been forgotten, but when my dad picked me up after school, and I was crying, he asked why. I asked him why she hated me. The next day, I was in the second grade, all happy and no tears.

Now that is a wild, but true story. All kids who can read when they go to school are not yelled at (most were not), and that’s how it should be. Reading is fun. It’s wonderful. It’s one of the greatest things we can experience. At least that’s how I feel about it. What if we couldn’t read? What if there were no books to read? No building to house them in? No libraries? Think about what that would mean.

“A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never-failing spring in the desert.” – Andrew Carnegie

Merry Christmas Mancos Friends and Residents,

Many of you delightful folks have helped on the Giving Tree in past years – maybe even received a visit from Santa’s Elves with their arms full of packages for you and your family! Well, here we go on Year 19 of the Giving Tree, and we are looking for helpers. Donna Watkins is the Chief Elf this year, and she needs to hear from you if you plan to help with elf duties.

The outline of chores to do and dates so far for 2016 Giving Tree look like this.

1. The applications forms have been given to the schools, the churches, Housing Authority, Valley Inn and are posted on two websites (mancosvalleychamber.com and mancosvalleyresources.com). Fill one out for your children or grandchildren, your neighbor or for a friend. Don’t forget the senior citizens you know. Please note the elves are looking for children to age 22 and seniors 70 and older. The forms need to be returned to box 465, Mancos by Nov.10. (Alternate drop-offs are at Dolores State Bank on Main and Mancos Visitor Center).

2. Donna is looking for three or four volunteers who will work with her about Nov. 14 to translate the application information to useful shopping data for the tree ornaments. Dee will have the ornaments ready by then.

3. The trees go up Nov. 18-19 at the Columbine on Grand, Dolores State Bank on Main, Zuma’s at the corner of Main and U.S. 160, P&D Grocery on the 160 frontage road, and the Library on East First south of the river. Can you help with this effort? Spread the ornaments out over each of these trees, coordinating the work with the business owner.

4. We have two specific needs for cash donations this year. We buy gift certificates at P&D and at Empire Electric. If you would rather contribute cash because you don’t have time to shop – we welcome this type of help and support too! Plus you can have a charitable tax deduction because Mancos Valley Resources (Box 204, Mancos) accepts these donations for the Giving Tree. Please make your cash or shop decisions quickly so that the elves have time to buy the certificates.

5. Headquarters will open Nov. 15. HQ will be in the yellow building at Oak & Grand. Gloria and Roger and Sue have loaned three large tables, some garden chairs, and a coat rack so far. More tables are welcome. Does anyone have a small microwave so that the elves can prepare coffee/tea/cocoa while they work? How about some coffee mugs?

So now you have the Giving Tree work up to Thanksgiving! We need a group of volunteer elves to make this happen, and hope that you will join the effort. Just pick up the phone and let Donna know. Phone 303-956-5656. Email dlslwatkins@msn.com.

Assistant elf Sue Scott, 970-533-1504 or email sue@sundancebear.com.