Linda Mitchell doesn’t judge a book by its cover. But after more than 1,000 home visits, St. Louis’ “Book Lady” learned that a family’s bookshelves can tell quite a story.
During her years as a parent educator with St. Louis Public Schools, Mitchell began paying attention to how books showed up in the homes she visited. In some, she saw little, if any, printed material within easy reach. In others, an entire wall might be lined with books, including shelves low enough for a 2-year-old to grab one.
The difference made Mitchell think about what each environment was communicating to a child. “Culture is so powerful,” Mitchell says. “It’s the values and the beliefs of the family.”…