Everybody on the Road has a Honda Fit

Why I am on Substack: Part 1

You know when you get a new car and drive away, suddenly every vehicle on the road is also your same car? The world is a momentary twilight zone. Is there a Honda Fit convention in town? Where did all these identical cars come from and how did they all converge on your town on this day?

This is known as the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, which sounds so cool and scientific, so I did a little research to tell you all about it. I was hoping there would be an intriguing backstory that I could use to enthrall — I wanted it to include a cat and a box, or an ancient philosopher standing on the edge of a towering building throwing off a lead cannonball, or there were 15 elephants and 7 mice and 3 ice-cubes — but instead, I found the story of Terry Mullen, just some guy who wrote into his local paper in 1994 (I was already 12 years old when this scientific-sounding term was created? I am older than this idea?!) and coined the term because “just yesterday” (or “lasterday” as my 2-year-old would say) in conversation to a friend Terry had mentioned an obscure gang, and then the very next day the newspaper ran an article about said obscure gang. The name of the gang? Baader-Meinhof. The audacity, Terry. I wonder how often Terry wrote into his local paper? My guess is…often.

In good news, this phenomenon is also commonly known as the Frequency Illusion, and I will never hear the word Illusion again without thinking of Gob Bluth.

You: Alexis, does this have anything to do with Library Stax?

Me: Great question! To answer, I would like to share the story of how my little substack was born.

One day, I woke up with an idea**: What if I created a newsletter that helped other moms, teachers, and caregivers know what books to grab at the library? I could offer weekly reviews of our library haul! I am a mom, I have a degree in creative writing, I was a professional nanny and worked with young children for 20 years, and I love reading and cultivating a love of literature.

Was this a good idea? I wasn’t sure so I did the thing I do whenever I have an idea, I googled it. My (faulty, it turns out) results suggested there weren’t that many resources out there that matched the idea. “Hey! I have had a somewhat original thought, and may be able to provide a service that will actually benefit people!”

So, I started Library Stax (well, tbh first I talked about it for like an entire year and bit my nails to the quick and hemmed and hawed, asked friends for encouragement then found excuses for why I shouldn’t…rinse repeat until finally..) drove this little puppy off the lot, and the powers that be (i.e. internet algorithms) figured out what I was interested in and started piping it down the tube. I was buried in kid-lit content. Book-loving caregiver people are everywhere, they are beautiful, and they are already creating great lists, interviewing authors, and handing out hot tips. The internet abounds with these wonderful resources that are exactly what I was looking for but couldn’t find until I went out and got one for myself.

Some of my favorites:

• Can we read?

• The Magic Book House

• Readable Moments Book Club

• MOONBOW

• "Storytime" with Victoria Young

This discovery is amazing and energizing and may have also set off a teensy tiny self-doubt spiral that I am sure all creators know intimately. Tune in next week to read more about my self-doubt spiral monster, what I am calling it, and how I plan on handling it.

It is NOT a case of the Baader-Meinhoff phenomenon or the Frequency Illusion if you happen to pick up a Knight book in our house, then glance around and notice that there are Knight books EVERYWHERE you look. This is because my kids are actively obsessed with all things knights right now and these books are on constant rotation. Not mad about it because it gave me a great excuse to pop this film on for movie (k)night and revel in young Heath Ledger in all his glory.

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LIT TIP

Lean into their interests. Does your kid love trains? Ballet? Bugs? Staring at maps? Asking questions about the human body? Use your library catalog to look up all the books about whatever your kid is into and lean into it for a phase. I like looking for books in both the early reader and the non-fiction section so we can get the facts and be entertained by a story. It may feel like you are going to be reading the same five books about race cars on repeat for eternity, but trust me, your kid will shift gears (pun intended) and you’ll soon find yourself feeling nostalgic for the very book you are yearning to throw out the window this week.

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FROM THE STAX

THE DRAGON AND THE NIBBLESOME KNIGHT by Ellie Woollard & Benji Davies

A young dragon heads out into the great world tasked with finding some nibblesome knight when he crash-lands in a pond where a young knight (not wearing his armor) mistakes the dragon for an injured duck and nurses him back to health. When they realize the other for what they truly are they have to decide what to do about their expected roles clashing with their budding friendship. A book about mistaken identities leading to unlikely friendships that helps teach kids to put aside their expectations and biases and find the friend.

KNIGHTS IN SHINING ARMOR by Gail Gibbons

Eager to learn more about what it is like to be a knight? Gail Gibbons is the queen of non-fiction in our library. I swear, there hasn’t been a topic of interest yet that Gail Gibbons hasn’t written an excellent book about. Perfect for the middle preschool to early elementary audience interested in the facts, this book will teach you the basics and sprinkle in some new fun knowledge, all accompanied by delightful colorful drawings. We especially like looking at the shields and plan to use these illustrations as inspiration when we design our own.

THE KNIGHT AND THE DRAGON by Tomie DePaola

A knight who has never fought a dragon and a dragon who has never fought a knight do a little research, do a little practice, and head out to defeat their sworn enemy, with a (not totally) unexpected outcome. This book tells half the story with words, but the details of the story are in the pictures, and that creates a bit of magic when you are reading as if the book is a puzzle to be solved. If the art looks familiar, it is probably because of Strega Nona. Tomie DePaola is prolific in the children’s book world and his fanciful drawings and sense of humor always bring joy as well as a bit of nostalgia, his books have that kind of sticking power where they are read for generations.

THE PRINCESS KNIGHT by Cornelia Funke & Kerstin Meyer

When Violetta is born, 4th child and only daughter, her widowed father raises her like all his sons. Teased and overlooked, she refuses to give up. Then one unexpected day, the eve of her 16th birthday, her father declares a tournament will be held to win her hand in marriage. Violetta sees she must take matters into her own (extremely capable) hands. I love any tale that will help young girls feel confident, strong, and in charge of their own love story. Touted as Cornelia Funke’s first English debut, I am thrilled to see that it isn’t her only, as I plan to look up more of her work next trip to the library.

THE BRAVEST KNIGHT by Mercer Mayer

A young boy wishes he lived “one thousand years ago” so he could be squire to the bravest knight. Full of adventure, whimsy, and truly delicious drawings packed with discoverable details, this book is simple and silly and a wonderful read. Mercer Mayer is best known for his Little Critter First Readers, which I would also recommend, but sometimes my favorites are those lesser-known treasures. I am happy to have discovered this one and I think Mercer Mayer’s imagination thrives in these illustrations of castles, trolls, and dragons.

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Thanks for being here and happy reading y’all!

If you know someone who would love book reviews for their kiddos, classrooms, nanny jobs, grandkids, nephews, nieces….etc etc, please consider sharing!

**Nobody one day wakes up with an idea, this is a lie. Ideas formulate over time through circumstance. They percolate and simmer. They flounder like caught fish and fly around like dandelion seeds. They come through community and conversation or inspiration piqued from another person’s brilliant idea. They are born through observation over time.

What are some ideas simmering around in your brain? What will you make of them?