I love, love, love working with the youngest children at the school.  The nursery kids are 3 years old. They come into the library like a line of multicolored little bobble heads; all tiny bodies, skinny necks trying to hold up too big heads with unblinking, too big eyes.  They are mute and staring, few speaking English and all still babies.  They only manage to sit still for 10 minutes before they start to roll around on the floor, climbing all over each other like puppies.  Pre-K are 4.  They can manage a little longer, maybe 15 minutes, and can actually answer a question or two.  They have grown into their heads and don’t look as though they’re about to topple over.  These little guys try to get as close as possible to me and fight for space at my feet.  One boy likes to tuck his head between my knees, just like a dog, while I’m reading.  I scratch him behind the ears.  The Kindergarteners are little mini students already.  They listen and answer questions and don’t just need to be herded and entertained.  The do need more disciplining though, so they’re beginning to lose their charm.  One extremely naughty but equally cute little fellow always asks me how he behaved at the end of each lesson.  I tell him truthfully that he could have behaved better.  Today he smiled and gave me a big hug as though I'd just complimented him.  I'm thinking his English is still a bit shaky.  As the children get older they get more demanding and by the time they reach 3rd grade, there are more kids that irritate than please me.  It will very soon be time to retire.  xxoo me