It sat on the bookshelf for two years, untouched and unread. It did not have a cute, bright or silly cover. Its cover was black. Its title in white block letters, some might call ugly. Plus, it wasn't enticing either.

It was titled: The Most Boring Book You’ve Ever Read.

It had neither fancy lettering, nor beautiful illustrations inside. All it had were words, line after line of words.

When it first made it to the library, it was put on display. A few people picked it up, turned it around, read its title, then put it back down. They chose other more colorful and fanciful books with witty titles. But, each time it was not selected, the book grew lonelier and sadder.

It wished and hoped that just once it could go home with a child. It wanted to be looked upon with glee like they did other books.

On a rainy spring afternoon, a little girl named Salome came along. The lonely book knew her name because someone who sounded like an adult, and probably her mother, said, “Salome, please stay with us.”

“Salome, no screaming in the library.”

“Salome, don’t toss the books on the floor.”

Salome was loud, boisterous and didn’t follow the library rules that required every one to use their inside voices.

She was full of enthusiasm and the sound of her laughter made the book smile.

She walked through the row where the lonely book was shelved, and touched all the books on the shelf one by one.

She picked some up and tossed them on the ground. It was a fun game she made up just that instant.

When she touched the lonely book, it sighed. But, Salome didn’t hear it. She was too enraptured in her silly little game.

The lonely book hadn’t been touched in a while and it had forgotten how good it felt to have contact with a human. Salome’s palms felt so warm wrapped around its spine. It braced itself for the eventual impact against the ground.

It never came.

Little Salome did not toss the lonely book, instead, she ran her hands over its cover multiple times. Afterwards, she sat down, crossed her legs and thumbed through the book. She couldn't read the words inside but stared at them and made incoherent mumblings, pretending to read the book like her mother did at bedtime. When she got to the last page, she tucked it under her armpit. The coziness and warmth thrilled the book to no end.

When it came time to leave, little Salome refused to let go of the lonely book.

“Salome, this book has no pictures, how about we get you one that is more fun,” her mother said.

Those words hurt the lonely book’s feelings and it started to feel sad again.

To its surprise, Salome said, “no, no, no,” and fell to the ground in a fitful tantrum.

“Alright, I guess this is your library book loan for the day then”. Her mother decided.

“May I check it out for you?” she asked.

The lonely book felt itself being transferred from a small and soft human hand to a larger, more calloused human hand. It heard the beep as the library computer scanned its barcode. And before it knew it, it was in the soft, warm embrace of little Salome again.

It couldn't believe it!

Someone finally chose it!

It was going home with a child!