Libraries are supposed to be quiet places — a place so silent, that you could even hear a pin drop. But our Primary Library is a different story altogether. It’s chaos, but a happy kind of chaos — where kids can discuss everything under the sun (literally)
With two classes often visiting together, our ears are treated to a symphony of sounds — the humdrum of kiddie chatter, bursts of laughter, the soft noise of the air-conditioner, the rhythmic beep of books being scanned, and the rustle of pages being turned. It’s not the silence of a traditional library, but the kind of sound that tells you that little minds are exploring and connecting through stories.
And right in the middle of this humdrum walks in our little dynamo— an energetic, wide-eyed child, whose enthusiasm knew no bounds. He came in buzzing with excitement, barely able to contain himself.
“Ma’am! Ma’am! I want to tell you something, he said, words spilling out faster than his thoughts could catch up.
Before anyone could ask him to quiet down, he launched into a breathless, dramatic narration — something involving his best friend. And Goshhh!!! He was on a mission to make sure not a single person in the library missed his narration.
The story started tumbling out, until he stopped mid-sentence, and announced, “Wait! I have to tell everyone!”
And off he went.
He ran up to Jessica, our gentle story teller and declared, “Old Teacher! I have to tell you something!”
“Old Teacher?” she asked, pointing to herself.
He nodded sincerely. “Yes, because your have white hair so you’re Old Teacher. But don’t worry, you’re nice Old Teacher.”
Now, Jessica, bless her, took it in good humour, and was amused, though I am sure she must have made a mental note to dye her hair over the weekend!
But our little bundle of energy wasn’t done yet. His eyes darted across the room, and then he exclaimed dramatically, “Oh no! I have to tell the Yellow Dress Teacher! She’ll be sad if I don’t tell her!”
And before he could zoom, off, amid the chairs and bookshelves, I held his hand and took him to the “Yellow Dress Teacher”
Now, “Yellow Dress Teacher” wasn’t anyone’s official title. It was just what he called one of the teachers wearing a yellow outfit that day, but to him that became her official title.
He saw his teachers through his own little system of names – “Old Teacher,” “Book Ma’am,” “Sticker Maam” and now, “Yellow Dress Teacher.”
And somehow, in his world, that made perfect sense.
It was his unique way of identifying the people who made up his little universe — not by designations or subjects, but by colours, details, and the things that stood out to him.
Watching him that day, I couldn’t help but smile, not just at his boundless energy, but the way he saw us. To him, we were not adults with job titles — we were characters in his colourful storybook of life.
And in a world that often tries to quieten children who are “too much,” it felt refreshing to see one express himself so freely and fearlessly.
Labels don’t always have to be bad -sometimes, they’re just ,, pure observation of a child.
Yes, our library may not always be quiet — but it’s full of stories. Some are written on paper, and some, like this one, are lived out loud by the little humans who remind us that sometimes noise is just another word for life and excitement.
Ms Sheetal Bhatia
Librarian Primary
