June 5, 2012
Library Owl
While I am quite familiar with the griffin and the lion flanking the entrance to the Lillian H. Smith Library, it was only today that I discovered the owl. It’s on the front of the building toward the west end, sort of hidden behind a sign on the sidewalk and I’d never noticed it before as I charged along the sidewalk, stroller in hand, hurrying home in time for lunch and nap-time. But Harriet has taken to walking, and as a result, our routes along the sidewalk have become much more meandering. Which is kind of annoying, but how brilliant when it yields a treasure. I have no doubt that wandering with Harriet will improve my city sight.
And just when I thought the Lillian H. Smith Library couldn’t be any more wonderful…
More: Joan Bodger and the Lillian H. Smith Library (see final paragraphs)
Catherine Raine visits the Lillian H. Smith Library
Oh, this is beautiful. Think of all the amazing discoveries those tiny legs will lead you to!
If you’re interested in Toronto grotesques, check out Terry Murray’s Faces on Places: A Grotesque Tour of Toronto. She highlights a number of gargoyles, greenmen, and other adornments on buildings around the city. It’s a neat book.
I love that library — I almost convinced myself I wanted to do a doctorate in early children’s literature purely because I wanted the excuse to spend enormous amounts of time at that library …