The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt

 

The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt-342 pages

Bob is a retired librarian passing his solitary days surrounded by books and small comforts in a house in Portland, Oregon. One morning on his daily walk he encounters a confused elderly woman lost in a market and returns her to the senior center that is her home. Hoping to fill the void he's known since retiring, he begins volunteering at the center. 

Behind Bob straight-man facade is the story of an unhappy child's runaway adventure during the last days of the Second World War, of true love won and stolen away, of the purpose and pride found in the librarian's vocation, and of the pleasures of a life lived to the side of the masses. 

Seriously...what library worker would not love to read a book with this cover??!!  Very good story line, with a surprise twist.  I enjoyed the setting and the characters.  I recommend this book.

Wild About Books by Judy Sierra

Wild About Books by Judy Sierra, 30 pages

Molly McGrew, the Springfield Librarian, accidentally drives her book mobile to the zoo.  She starts to read Dr. Seuss.  All the animals want to learn about reading.  There are cute rhymes how the animals read their books.  They even have the Zoolitzer Prize.  They like books so much, they open the Zoobrary!

Free For All: Oddballs, Geeks, And Gangsters In The Public Library by Don Borchert

Free For All: Oddballs, Geeks, and Gangsters In The Public Library by Don Borchert, 223 pages

I loved this book!  Maybe, I liked this book so much because working in a public library, I see so much of what he wrote about go on in our library.  I actually found myself laughing out loud.  Of course, our library's mishaps barely rival Don's, who works for the Los Angeles Public Library.  Of course, he writes about the usual things librarian's run across: fines, people having multiple cards, and the unruly kids. Some of the more shocking stories he shares are how he found a sex toy in the outside book drop and how the bathroom was being used as a drug dealers warehouse.  I especially loved the part where one year for the summer reading program they offered a trip to Houston and how one little girl kept checking out books and saying she read them all.  There was nothing they could do to stop her.  She had quite a few tickets in the drawing and of course she won.  The following year they went back to pencils and pens for prizes.  Or, the part where they use to serve wine with staff lunches in the library.  My favorite chapter is MMM, where the staff labels the patrons in their record as MMM.  I wondered what does that stand for?  At the end of the chapter, we find out it means patrons who Make Me Mad.  But, my all time favorite is how they charge $5.00 for a new library card!

Multiple Books

Well, I got tired of creating new posts, so this one will follow the other format I have seen.

Of all these books, the best for teaching children about how to use the library, treat library library material, and use online library resources are the Amanda StJohn series.  The most fun to read was Wild About Books.

The Librarian from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler - 32 pages

 A class is going on their first visit to the library and they have heard nothing but bad things about the room.  After much fretting, will they find it a different place?








Arthur Writes a Story by Marc Brown -32 pages

Arthur is given as assignment to write a story and he chooses to write about elephants.  After talking his idea over with friends, he visits the library and conduct more in-depth research.  However, in the end, after his presentation on elephants fails, Arthur goes back to his original story about how he got his dog.







Read All About It! by Laura and Jenna Bush - 32 pages

With one co-author as a former librarian, the importance of libraries is stressed.  At first, Tyrone doesn't like to read, but story times change that after a book on space exploration was read.  he grew to like books and more topics began to interest him and his imagination came alive.







Wild About Books by Judy Sierra - 40 pages

This book tells the tale of what happens when the bookmobile accidentally visits the zoo and the librarian conducts story time.  The animals slowly come out to hear her, then all stampede.  They grow to love reading, locate books and reading places they like, and a zoobrary is established.







How a Library Works by Amanda StJohn - 24 pages

Stew Rabbit visits the library for the first time and fellow visitor, Opal Owl, shows him how a library works, including the self-checkout station.  The book also explains how the Dewey Decimal system works,why books are shelved the way they are, and the wealth of items a library offers for checkout. Excellent overview.







How to Find Information Online by Amanda StJohn - 24 pages

Stew Rabbit and Opal Owl find a turtle and want to learn more.  They visit their local library where the librarian shows then how to find and evaluation online information.  She also demonstrates relevant types of sources, like encyclopedias and databases.







How to Check Out a Book  by Amanda StJohn - 24 pages

Stew Rabbit and Opal Owl attend story time and Stew wants to check out the book that was just read.  This leads him on an odyssey where he learns what one has to do in order to check out a book.  It begins with asking his dad to apply for his library card and ends with Stew's first use of a self-checkout machine with every step in between, including an explanation about how barcodes work and how fins can be incurred.





How an e-Book Works by Amanda StJohn - 24 pages

Stew Rabbit and Opal Owl are inthe children's room of the library with Opal's e-reader.  Stew had never used one before, so Opal shows him how.  They begin with looking at the catalog for a book to download, find one, then discuss the various file formats and how different readers use different ones. After it is checked out, Opal shows him how to sync the book from the computer and they read it.  Lastly, they discuss how the books expire and remove themselves from the  device.




How to Find a Book  by Amanda StJohn - 24 pages

When Stew Rabbit and Opal Owl visit the library, they picked out all their favorites to reread.  At the insistence of Stew's dad, they look for something new.  Mrs. Mantis, the children's librarian, asks them about if there was something they wished to learn about and then shows them how to use the online catalog, including interpreting the record.






How to Treat a Book  by Amanda StJohn - 24 pages

Opal Owl and Stew Rabbit want to check out a new book, but are afraid of ruining it.  They discuss ways a book should be handled to minimize damage.  Also covered as the various parts of books (ex. spine, pages) and what happens if a book does become damages, including fines and repairs.






The Lonely Library by Kristin Ostby - 32 pages

Franny's grandfather works in a shoe repair shop and she often visits with him there.  One day, a librarian brought in her shoes to be repaired and Franny tries them on.  As Franny loves to read, her imagination soon whisks her away to a very large library.  There, she encounters Henry the Mouse who claims to love book more than anyone and Sally the library cat.  They all work together to find a book and Franny teaches Henry and Sally a valuable lesson on friendship.





Check It Out!: Reading, Finding, Helping by Patricia Hubbell - 32 pages

In this rhyming book, the librarian loves books and demonstrates this love to the children she serves.  It also demonstrates the various types of books found in libraries and other librarian duties, such as planning programs; ordering material; and repairing books.





Check It Out! The Book About Libraries by Gail Gibbons - 32 pages

This book provides a dated overview of libraries.  While many of the services are the same today, the technologies are different-this still demonstrates card catalogs and signature cards instead of computer-based catalogs and circulation.  However, kudos for this being the first library-themed children's book to mention libraries are funded by taxes.




Please Bury Me in the Library by Patrick Lewis - 32 pages

In this book of book-themed poems, we see a love of books and some interesting word-play.  the title poem was the only one to directly feature a library, but all embodied the spirit of libraries.








The Library Dragon by Carmen Agra Deedy - 32 pages

In this book, Lotta Scales is a dragon and the school librarian.  She guards the books form harm, but unfortunately, she does so in a way that turns users away from the library.  Then one day, Molly comes in looking for her missing glass and break a rule by pulling a book of the shelf.  She starts reading aloud and something changes. Will it be for the better?






Return of the Library Dragon  by Carmen Agra Deedy - 32 pages

Miss Lottie is retiring.  On her last day of work, she comes into school and discovers all the books have been removed and an IT guy is setting up a media lab.  She returns to her old self from 20 years back-Lotta Scales.  What will happen?







There's a Dragon in the Library by Dianne de Las Casas - 32 pages

Max visits the library each week.  On the first week, a dragon hatches from an egg.  With each visit, the dragon continues to grow, helped by the fact he east the books.  Max can never get anyone to believe him.  What will happen?








Library Mouse: World to Explore by Daniel Kirk - 32 pages

Sam is a mouse who lives in the library.  he loves to research and read.  One day he encounters Sara, a mouse who lives on the  other side of the library.  She loves to explore.  They then explore the library, looking at and playing with items representing places and travel methods with some research en route.  How much of an adventure will they have in the library?





Library Mouse: A Museum Adventure by Daniel Kirk - 32 pages

Sam and Sarah are mice who live in the library.  One night, Sarah decides they need an adventure and head over to the museum next door.  There they make note of the many things they view which they first read about in books.  However, their presence does not go unnoticed.  Who will they encounter and how will it affect them?






Can I Bring Woolly to the Library Ms. Reeder? by Lois G. Grambling - 32 pages

I think children will enjoy this book about a boy who wants to bring his woolly mammoth with him to the library.  He comes up with all sorts of ways Woolly can help, from checking books in and out to having children read to him.  And the illustrations easily make one smile and want to laugh--it's like a comic strip in that way.







Going to the Library by Rebecca Rissman - 24 pages

Basic book on visiting the library during the school day.  Feature photographs and extra large print.








I.Q.Goes to the Library by Mary Ann Fraser - 32 pages

I.Q. is a class' pet mouse and visits the library with them every day during library week.  While there, he hunts for the book that was read aloud the first day.  This leads to a lot of exploring what a library offers.  Over all, a cute book and the teacher is Mrs. Furber.  Any librarians out there get the joke?





When the Library Lights Go Out by Megan McDonald and Katherine Tillotson - 40 pages

Two puppets, Rabbit and Lion, escape from there box to search for their missing friend, Hermit Crab, another puppet.  There search takes them all over the library.  Will they find Hermit Crab?








Dear Dragon Goes to the Library by Margaret Hillert - 32 pages

A boy needs to visit the library and return his books.  He takes his pet dragon with him.  Once there, besides returning and getting new books, they attend story time, doe some arts and crafts, and explore the library.  This beginning to read book featured large font, repeatable books that are simple for children just learning to read.






Librarian on the Roof! by M.G. King - 32 pages

This is a true story of the extraordinary measure on librarian took to raise money to establish a children's section in her library.  RoseAleta went up on the roof and refused to come down until the money was raised.  I don't think I could do that!







Anna the Bookbinder by Andrea Cheng - 32 pages

Anna's father is a bookbinder and she often spends her days in his shop as he binds books for both individuals and libraries.  They are worried about the increase use of mass printing facilities, as most libraries now use them instead.  When Anna's mother is giving birth while an important order must be completed, Anna takes over her father's job.  Will she succeed?






The History of the Library by Barbara A. Somervill - 32 pages

This book traces the history of libraries from Ancient Sumeria to the modern era.  Using a timeline format, we see the changes from cuneiform to papyrus to scrolls to codices to e-books.  Some neat trivia: Ancient Greeks had the first truly public libraries and the library at Alexandria was organized by topic.  Also discussed were famous libraries, how manuscripts were made and copied, the evolution of printing, and the future of libraries, including digital media.  This book provides a good overview for children.

I Want to Be a Librarian by Dan Liebman - 22 pages

This dated book informs it's readers librarian like books and helping others, which while true, lacks the digital aspects.  Also, the photos are clearly from the 1990s.  The majority of the book details the typical librarian duties.







Read It, Don't Eat It! by Ian Schoenherr - 32 pages

This book presents a fun way to learn how to treat books.  It features comical images and large type to accompany each book care and library book-related rules (such as renewing books).








I'm Not Reading by Jonathan Allen - 32 pages

In this book, Baby Owl pans to sit quietly and read his favorite book.  However, the chicks notice and come to him.  An impromptu story time follows.  Hilarity will ensue and more and more chicks join the fun.








A Book for Black-Eyed Susan by Judy Young - 32 pages

Cora and her family leave Missouri for Oregon via the Oregon Trail.  Tragedy strikes along the way when her mother dies giving birth.  Instead of ten-year old Cora caring for her sister, the job is given to her Aunt Alma but Cora helps as much as possible.  She also works many quilt blocks.  But as they get nearer to Oregon, Cora's father informs her that he plans to help her aunt and uncle raise baby Susan.  Cora makes the block into Susan's first book.  Later in her new role as a teacher, Cora must build a library for her school.  And unexpected donation touches her soul.

I loved how heart-touching this book was and the historical elements are very accurate.

Total: 31 books in this post.

The Boy Who Was Raised By Librarians by Carla Morris

The Boy Who Was Raised By Librarians by Carla Morris, 30 pages

This book won the Show Me Reader Award.  Melvin went to the library everyday after school.  He talked to the librarians everyday.  They were always happy to help him.  He loved the library!  Through the years, the librarians helped him with various projects.  They were always there for them.  Even after graduation, Melvin kept in touch with the librarians!

Check It Out! Reading, Finding, Helping by Patricia Hubbell

Check It Out!  Reading, Finding, Helping by Patricia Hubbell, 30 pages

Our librarian loves books!  She loves all books and knows where to find each book.  She fixes books, straightens shelves, checks out books, and plans book parties.  She reads books and helps people.  At night, she goes home and reads some more!

Library Lil by Suzanne Williams

Library Lil by Suzanne Williams, 30 pages

Since she was little, Lil loved to read.  Lil was strong from carrying volumes of books.  Lil grew up to become a librarian in Chesterville.  They called her Library Lil.  She offers storytime, no one comes.  Everyone is watching TV until the power goes out.  Now, everyone reads books.  Lil meets her match when Bust-'Em-Up Bill comes to town.  Bill reads a book and gets his gang to read too.  Finally, he becomes Lil's Assistant, aka Bookworm Bill.  This was a cute book!

Amelia Bedelia's First Library Card by Herman Parish

Amelia Bedelia's First Library Card by Herman Parish, 30 pages

Amelia Bedelia loves to read.  Her teacher Miss. Smith takes the class to the town library.  They meet Mrs. Reilly, the children's librarian.  She goes over the rules of the library.  She looks for stacks of books (not pancakes and hay). The children see the children's room.  Each child receives a library card. They learn how to find books. Amelia mistakenly checks out a book about weather and ironically leaves it out in the rain and learns she must pay for her book.  I loved the pink drop box on the cover and first page!

D.W.'s Library Card by Marc Brown

D.W.'s Library Card by Marc Brown, 22 pages

D.W. can get her own library card when she can write her own name, Dora Winifred Read.  D.W. waits for the book she wants, the frog book. The book is old and worn.  D.W. is worried about damaging the book, so she keeps it in a safe place.  Arthur reads the book to D.W. She loves it!

Leading Kids to Books Through Crafts by Caroline Feller Bauer

Leading Kids To Books Through Crafts by Caroline Feller Bauer, 145 pages

Caroline Feller Bauer is a children's librarian and a workshop presenter who has traveled the world.  This is a great book for children's librarians, elementary school teachers and librarians, and reading tutors.  This book is essentially how to motivate children to read or to listen to stories being read to them by tying a craft activity in with  the theme of the story.  For instance,  painting a rock to look like a lady bug and reading Eric Carle's  the Grouchy Ladybug.  Or, making stick puppets modeled after characters from a story.  This book is published by the American Library Association.  Parents with young children may also enjoy doing the crafts with their children and then sharing a story or poem with them.

The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians by Carla Morris

The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians by Carla Morris -32 pages

Melvin grew up in the library raised by librarians.  Well, sort of.  He was there so often, he may have well been.  Melvin loved to read and seek knowledge.  The librarians Marge, Betty, and Leeola were always there to help.  And help they did, more than just with his questions.  They helped him with his homework, practice play lines, select archival-safe storage options for his baseball card collection, and more.  The librarians were like his pseudo-parents.  They even influence his career path.  Read to book to find out how.

I enjoyed this book.  In many ways Melvin is like me, so he is a highly relateable character.  And it was nice that the book  walked us through his life from pre-school through the start of his career.

Morning Comes Softly by Debbie Macomber

Morning Comes Softly by Debbie Macomber - 384 pages

In this novel, Mary Werner is a shy, small-town Louisana librarian who answers a personals ad from Travis Thompson, a rancher in Montana.  Travis is looking for a wife after taking in his two orphaned nephews and orphaned niece.  Mary is looking for a change in the wake of her last living  family member's death.  Both decide to help each other out, so Mary leaves for Montana.  Once she arrives and they marry, readers learn about their budding relationship that goes beyond the help-wife Travis intended and how they manage their newly formed family.  Also a key story line is that of Travis looking for the person responsible for his brother and sister-in-law's tragic car crash.

This novel was okay.  The story line was essentially a modern day rehash of Jeanette Oke's Love Comes Softly (thus the title of this novel; morning just happen to be when many important things happen).  And Macomber used all the stereotypical librarian descriptions, which all of us at JCL should know are not always true!

Lola At The Library by Anna McQuinn

Lola At The Library by Anna McQuinn, 24 pages

Lola loves Tuesdays, because that is when her Mom takes her to the library. Lola's library card is very important to her.  She returns her books and goes to story time.  Lola checks out her new books.  At bedtime, my favorite time, her Mom reads them to her.  This was a great book that shows how important it is to go to the library and to share the books you check out!

Dewey There's A Cat In The Library by Vicki Myron & Bret Witter

Dewey There's A Cat In The Library by Vicki Myron & Bret Witter, 32 pages

People leave items in the library's drop box, usually it is books people leave.  But, one very cold night in Spencer, Iowa, someone dropped a cat in the box. Vicki, the librarian, found the cat the next morning. The library named the cat Dewey Readmore Books. Dewey loved people. Dewey went to story hour. Dewey talked to Marty Mouse.  Dewey acted like a regular cat. Then, one day, he saw a sad girl in the library. After that, Dewey was a real library cat.

Read All About It! by Laura and Jenna Bush

Read All About It! by Laura and Jenna Bush, 30 pages

Both Laura and Jenna Bush are former teachers.  Laura Bush joined the Library of Congress in 2001 and began the first National Book Festival in Washington DC.  I loved this book.  The book inspires children to read.  In this book, Tyrone is a young boy who really does not enjoy books. Miss. Libro, his teacher, tries to tell him libraries are wonderful places.  She tells him you never know who you will meet in a book.  But, one day, something happens. Miss. Libro reads a book about an astronaut and Tyrone likes it. The characters start appearing in the classroom.  Then in the spring, Miss. Libro starts reading a book about a pig.  When she finishes the book, the pig disappears.  Until, one day, Tyrone visits the library and finds all the characters that were in the books that Miss. Libro read.

Lewis The Librarian by Charnan Simon

Lewis The Librarian by Charnan Simon, 24 pages

Lewis the Librarian loves opening the library.  He loves to smell the books. Lewis loves shelving, ordering new books, and helping people.  Lewis loves everything about being a librarian.  But, his favorite part of the job is picking books to read for the children.  This a great book for librarians.  My favorite part of the book is the last page where it tells children how they can start their own library with their friends. Like the book says every book is like opening a door to a new adventure!

I Know a Librarian Who Chewed on a Word by Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton

I Know a Librarian Who Chewed on a Word by Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton - 32 pages

I wasn't fond of this book.  In it a librarian chewed a word and then chewed a book to join it.  Then she chewed other objects related to books and story times.  The act made the children very excited, as in the illustrations their eyes are nearly popping out.  Will they find out the word int he end?  Will they realize the word and actions' significance?

Shark in the Library! by Cari Meister

Shark in the Library! by Cari Meister - 25 pages

On a visit to the library, Noah must research a sea animal.  He draws the whale, but wanted the shark.  He researches the shark instead and looks all over the library for the shark.  The librarian assists as needed.  Will he find it?

Note: This is a graphic novel-style book.

Book, Line, And Sinker by Jenn McKinlay

Book, Line, And Sinker by Jenn McKinlay, 292 pages

Book, Line, and Sinker is the third book in the Library Lover's Mystery series.  However, I did read this one first.  I did not feel like I was missing anything because I read this one first.  I did really enjoy this book!  The story follows the adventures of Lindsey Norris, Library Director of the Briar Creek Public Library in Briar Creek, Connecticut.  The town wants to dig for Captain Kidd's Treasure on Pirate Island.  But, when Trudi Hargrave, the town's tourism director, is found murdered in the excavation site, adventure follows. Lindsey gets caught in her own love triangle with her ex boyfriend, John and her boyfriend, Sully. Lindsey puts all her library senses to good use in this mystery.  There are even suggestions how to do a crafternoon club involving books, crafts, and food.

Miss. Smith And The Haunted Library by Michael Garland

Miss. Smith And The Haunted Library by Michael Garland, 30 pages

Miss. Smith's class is going to the library along with her book, the Incredible Storybook.  The class meets the librarian, Miss. Creeper. Miss. Creeper reads stories from the Incredible Storybook. The Headless Horseman, Frankenstein, Captain Hook, and the Wicked Witch appear.  Miss. Creeper serves snacks, and everyone enjoys the party.  Oh no, the seniors are coming for book club.  The characters go back into the Incredible Storybook.  The kids were looking forward to checking out books and reading about the characters they just met.  This would be a great book for Halloween!