Carmen Agra Deedy & Michael P White (Illustrator)
Peachtree, 2012
You guys. I'm a huge fan of picture books. And I have a Master of Library Science. So what's not to love about a picture book about libraries?! Also, it features a dragon - and I'm developing a bit of a soft spot for dragons.
Miss Lotty, faithful and beloved librarian of Sunrise Elementary, has decided it is time to retire. She makes this decision with a sense of peace and anticipation (minus the concern that a computer would enter her library!), which is totally apparent in this gorgeous excerpt:
When she walks into her library, for her last day of work, Miss Lotty discovers her replacement -- Mike Krochip -- has kidnapped all the books. Well, that doesn't set well with Miss Lotty, and her old friend Miss Lotta Scales shows up to take care of things. Which saves the library, but who's going to take Miss Lotty's place now? Enter a girl whose job I envy -- as well as the nameplate on her desk. Molly has spunk and is fearless in defense of all things library-y! She's a lot like Miss Lotty, actually, without any of those dragonish tendencies ...
Return of the Library Dragon is fun and quirky, and makes my book-loving heart skip a beat. I'm all for advances in technology, I even have a Kindle, but in my heart of hearts? Nothing will replace the feel and smell of a physical book. With a easy-reading story and bright, colorful illustrations, I think Return of the Library Dragon just might help others remember that wonderful feeling too.
Book provided by publisher for review.
Are you curious? Do you love those illustrations? Would you like your own copy? I'll make it really, really, really easy to enter: Just leave me a comment with your thoughts on libraries (and/or librarians, dragons, or cookies) -- and make sure you leave an email address so I can contact you if you're the winner! The contest is open until 12:00am on Friday, November 2nd -- a winner will be selected randomly from all eligible comments and emailed, they will have 48 hours to reply to my email, or I'll have to select another winner.
Also, please note: This giveaway is for US addresses only. Comment away, and good luck!
Also, please note: This giveaway is for US addresses only. Comment away, and good luck!
I've always had a love/hate relationship with libraries, to be honest. ;) I LOVE the idea of libraries, though. And I adore dragons, especially in children's books!!
ReplyDeletebluerosesheart at yahoo dot com
I love libraries and would wander aimlessly through the kid's section if I didn't have to work. I especially love thematic picks from the librarians. Oh, and sometimes I even bring my kids!
ReplyDeletej_moraski at hotmail dot com
Carmen's first book, THE LIBRARY DRAGON, is a must-read to my upper elementary students at the beginning of the school year. I was so happy to see that she has written a follow-up that addresses some of the changes facing librarians & libraries around the world. I, too, am a fan of technology, but I don't thing one should exclude the other - I believe that paper books & electronic text can peacefully coexist. Thanks for your great review.
ReplyDeleteSusan, an international school librarian (with a US address)
school_librarian at bluebottle dot com