The event itself would be in a different venue, a community arts center with big windows and folding chairs instead of chandeliers and polished marble.

There would be no gala gowns or speeches about impressive careers.

Families would come to read, choose books, and make donations if they could.

Grace helped me arrange picture books in little wooden crates.

One display featured stories about constellations and night skies.

She carefully placed the whale book from last year’s auction at the front.

“Remember this?” she asked.

“I do.”