Author: Heather Henson, illus. by David Small
Rating: 
Reading Level: K – 2
Publisher: Atheneum
Edition: Hardcover, 2008
Even though I knew from page 2 that this is a little story on the power of books and libraries, and that this young boy narrator will become a reader in the end, I did not feel disappointed when all the prediction came true. This is due to the artistry of both the author and the illustrator. Henson’s text is folksy and true, with a wonderful lilting pace, while Small’s illustrations are gentle but at the same time with a quiet but majestic integrity. Of course, being a librarian, I am completely won over. (Just so you know, I am usually very suspicious of books glorifying Library Services and Librarians — oftentimes, I find those “books and reading are GREAT stories” corny and cringe-inducing.) I hope that others who are not in our profession will also find this fact-based story completely winning.
Fairrosa Cyber Library 