My mom brags that I was reading at 3 years old because I saw the word pizza on a sign, pointed to it and said “pizza.” I have no memory of that whatsoever, but I do fondly remember my stepfather and me hunched over books at bedtime reading stories while he helped me sound out words.

I read a bit throughout elementary school, but in high school I found young adult literature and loved it so much that at 14 I started volunteering at the Goffstown Public Library, and by 16 I was working there part time as a page. I quickly realized the Children’s Room was where it was at. Every kind of book imaginable, awesome crafts, and tons of adorable kids.

I started taking early childhood ed classes, focused on children’s lit, and got my first job in a Children’s Room, at the Merrimack Public Library. After a few weeks of hearing “Tank you, Miss Winzee,” cleaning up glitter explosions, removing glue from my hair, helping kids find books, and making ridiculous statements (“We don’t lick other people’s knees” and “Pants don’t belong on our head, no naked bums at storytime”), I was hooked.

When I started here at the Nashua Public Library in the early 2000s with Kathy Bolton and Susan Willmore, my life was irrevocably changed. Within my first few weeks in the Children’s Room, I knew I had found my forever place.

I love watching the children of Nashua grow; I love that they see me outside of work and excitedly run up to me in the grocery store and give me a hug.

My reading habits have changed slightly as I’ve gotten older but still veer towards women’s fiction, YA, crafts, and cookbooks.