AskALibrarian

Q I drew this picture for you.

R Thank you. I am going hang this on the fridge in the library kitchen so everyone can see it.

R Look, you drew a Tiger Lily.

Q That is funny. My cousin has a friend whose name is Lily.

R What kind of flower is that?

Q I am not sure, it is pink. It is really pretty, they are my favorite.

R Maybe a carnation?

Q Yea. That's it, a carnation.

Q I have a bird that needs lots of water, it has orange cheeks.

R Interesting.

Q It is better to have two.

R Yes, so they can keep each other company?

Q No, because the lady sells them two for fifteen dollars and ten dollars if you just get one.

R And they can keep each other company. Would you like to find a book on your bird?

Q Yes.

R What kind of bird is it?

Q It has orange cheeks, at first we thought it was a girl but then it's orange cheeks popped out.

R Is this a bird you keep in a cage?
Q Yes, the lady told us the cage was big enough for only one bird but we put another bird in there and it fit so my bird and my brother's bird are in the cage.
R Is the bird a finch?

Q Yea that's it, a finch.

R Let's go see if we can't find it in a book.




Observation: Reference interviews with kids are 98% patience and 2% luck. I pulled finch right out of my a&&.