Local Author Presents Book at Windsor Locks Public Library

“Sometimes I wonder what I might be if maybe I was not me.  If I were a bug, what might I be?”

“What Might I Be?” by Lisa Lavoie, asks children to consider what type of bug, bird, flower and fruit they would be, starting interesting conversations for all ages.

Lavoie originally wrote the book in 2005 for her sister, who was pregnant with twins. Her sister had asked people to bring books to the baby shower, so Lavoie decided to write a book instead and focus on the importance of individuality and finding your purpose in the world.

“It has been really fun to have it illustrated and published,” Lavoie said. The book is illustrated by T. Lak, of Montgomery, Mass.

Lavoie, originally from Chicopee, Mass., has lived in Windsor Locks for seven years. She now has her own 3-and-a-half-year-old daughter, who attended the book reading at the Saturday morning.

“What I intended the book to do, it does,” she said. “It is really interactive, if you keep asking questions kids will explain why they choose things and it can be silly or sweet.”

For example, at the reading, which about 10 children were in attendance for with their parents, children answered that they would like to be a spider, because they liked to eat insects, or a bumblebee, because they like to fly.

Melanie Taylor, of Windsor Locks, brought her three children. “It was nice that it was a small group, because each child got to participate,” she said.

Her 4-year-old son Zachary said he wanted to be a grasshopper because it jumps and eats other grasshoppers. For a bird, he wanted to be an owl, because they are nocturnal.

Children’s Librarian Kristen Raiche said they were happy to host the local author.

“It’s a cute book,” she said. “It gives kids lots of room to imagine and encourages open dialogue,” she said.

Lavoie also said it is a good book for children of different ages, as they will give different answers, so it can be read again as your child grows, or can be read to siblings of different ages. She said she is considering ideas for a second children’s book.

The book is available at Amazon.com for $12.

Lavoie will be signing books at the West Springfield Arts Council’s Celebrate the Arts from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 18.


Upcoming children’s events at Windsor Locks Library:

•  April 16: An Easter-themed story time at 10:30 a.m. will include an egg hunt.

•  May 7: Dinosaur Tracks, 11 a.m. Learn about the dinosaurs and the tracks they left behind right here in Connecticut. For ages 5 and up, participants will create their own souvenir dinosaur track.