The Little Library by G. Brian Karas, Margaret McNamara
Published by Schwartz & Wade Books on March 23, 2021
ISBN: 0525578331
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

Jake is nervous about going to the new library and about meeting the new school librarian. All his classmates are super excited, but Jake would rather stay back and sharpen pencils. Jake was a slow and careful reader, and he often felt overwhelmed by all the books and the flurry of going to the library. The new school librarian, Beck, notices Jake in the corner, and they bring Jake a book about woodworking. Jake takes the book and reads it over the remaining part of the school year. Beck often checks in with Jake and renews the book for him. When the school year is ending, Jake is dismayed at the idea of having to return the book and also at not being able to visit the library. So Jake builds a little library for outside the school building using the skills he learned in the book Beck gave him. After school closes, Beck sends Jake the woodworking book — they’ve removed it from the library collection because of low circulation before Jake picked it up.

This book has so many things going for it. The librarian is nonbinary, there is a diverse representation of kids presented in the classroom, and Jake builds the little library with his grandfather and not a parent. The illustrations are colorful and bring the story to life, but it’s the actual story that really makes this book.

Recommended for readers 4 and up and for Cream of the Crop. Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME