The library was one of my favorite places to go growing up. Going to the library always felt like an adventure, and the places to explore felt endless. Inspire the next generation of readers in your life with this list of curated books about the library. Enjoy!
1. Out and About at the Public Library: Field Trips
This short but informative book allows students to "visit" the library. Brightly colored pictures, along with some interesting facts accompany the text. Readers learn about the basic procedures and purpose of libraries.
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2. My Librarian is a Camel
Whether by bus, camel, wheelbarrow, or boat, children visit the library in different ways around the world! The cool stories include high-quality photographs and an introduction to countries around the world through the words of their adventuresome librarians.
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3. The Library
This heartwarming story written in verse and accompanied by charming illustrations is sure to resonate with book lovers of all ages. It follows the life and mishaps of Elizabeth Brown and how her intense love for reading encourages her to open a free library. Based on the real-life of librarian Mary Elizabeth Brown.
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4. The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians
If you were friends with a librarian's child growing up and hope the same for your young reader, this is the perfect book. The story follows Melvin and his librarian friends. Whimsical pictures clearly communicate the warm and encouraging atmosphere every reader feels when they enter a library.
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5. The Librarian of Basra
This compelling story details how one brave librarian, Alia Muhammad Baker, saved the entire Basra Library collection, including its ancient books, from being destroyed when Basra was invaded during the Iraq War in 2003. The story reinforces the concepts of shared humanity and bravery in the face of crisis. It made the Banned Book Lists in 2015--an excellent choice for Banned Books Week!
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6. The Deserted Library Mystery
Beloved author, Gertrude Chandler Warner does it again with another of The Boxcar Children mysteries. Benny, Violet, Jessie, and Henry are on a mission to save a boarded-up library, but once they arrive, they discover an unexpected visitor. Later, a mysterious stranger seems to be tampering with their project. This would be a wonderful choice for a grade-level fiction mystery book club.
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7. Pura's Cuentos: How Pura Belpre Reshaped Libraries with Her Stories
I love the bright colors and expressive illustrations of this book! The story follows the life of Pura Belpre, the first Latina librarian in New York City. She learned cuentos (stories) from her Abuela growing up. As a city librarian, she held story readings but felt they were missing something. She then brought her favorite stories, her Abuela's cuentos, to her young patrons and to the world. The appendix in the back even recommends some of her book titles for further exploration.
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8. The Not So Quiet Library
This humorous story follows Oskar and his stuffed animal Theodore to the library where they encounter an angry monster. The monster finally admits he hates books, no matter which way tries to eat them. After a hilarious exchange, peace is restored to the library.
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9. Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library!
Jo-Beth and Mary Rose accidentally get locked in an old-fashioned public library after using the restroom at closing time in a snowstorm! Once locked inside, their adventures are just beginning. This is a great chapter book for budding readers.
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10. Yasmin the Librarian
This is a single book of many in the Yasmin series. Yasmin gets to be the school librarian's special helper! She learns all about shelving books and managing the library. Additional resources introduce readers to some Urdu words and a few activities. Recommended for K-2 readers.
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11. Stella Louella's Runaway Book
Stella Louella's book has disappeared and she is afraid she will have to give up her library card. Follow Stella and all the friends she meets along the way as she tries to track down her missing book before the library closes at 5 pm!
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12. Madeline Finn and the Library Dog
Reading isn't easy for everyone, especially Madeline Finn. She desperately wants to get a gold star in reading but is struggling until she meets Bonnie, the library dog. This story encourages emerging readers to keep trying.
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13. Curious George Goes to the Library
Follow our favorite monkey, Curious George, to the library for the first time. Acclaimed authors, the Reys are at it again with more antics (and of course a disaster or two) as Curious George explores his new surroundings.
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14. But Excuse Me That is My Book
Lola wants to check out her favorite book about bugs, but when they get to the library, it's gone! Charlie has to explain to Lola that it's not their family library, the library is for everyone and she'll have to find a new book.
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15. The Library Pages
Mrs. Heath, the librarian is away. The Library Pages, the school library assistants, send her a video detailing how they have "improved" the system in her absence--with disastrous results! Will the library ever be the same? This clever story introduces the importance of taking care of library books.
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16. Splat the Cat and the Late Library Book
Splat found an overdue library book when cleaning out his room. What will happen to him? Read to find out! Based on the work of the bestselling author, Rob Scotton.
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17. We're Going on a Book Hunt
This picture book is a charming rewrite of the classic camp chant "Going on a Bear Hunt", complete with motions.
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18. The Book No One Ever Read
This enchanting story follows the secret life of books. Morty has been on the shelf for five years and never read, but longs to be loved. Will it ever happen?
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19. This Book Just Stole My Cat
I love how this book plays with the art. One day, Ben is playing with his cat, when it mysteriously disappears into the spine. He needs your help to get it back!
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20. The Night Library
This is a wonderful choice for a children's fantasy book club. After receiving a book for his birthday, a little boy awakes to see Fortitude, the stone lion from the NYC library outside his window. This is one of my top book recommendations on the list.
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21. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
Follow Kyle and his friends on a bizarre adventure to escape from Mr. Lemoncello's zany library. They have to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles to get out of the library and win an amazing prize! This is one of my favorite contemporary books from acclaimed author, Chris Grabenstein. This is also a great choice for a fiction book club audiobook, as it's read by a wonderful narrator.
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22. The Library Card
Bestselling author, Jerry Spinelli is at it again. Readers follow four different characters on a groovy adventure, each connected by a magical library card.
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23. The Man Who Loved Libraries
This breathtaking story details the life and philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie. He was a great collector of books, working with rare and antiquarian book dealers. He also funded over 2500 public libraries, including the New York City Public Library.
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24. Amelia Bedelia's First Library Card
Amelia Bedelia is always getting herself into trouble. Her first visit to the library is no exception! I love how this series uses homophones and homonyms to increase the hilarity!
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25. Richard Wright and the Library Card
Richard Wright loves books and longs to read more, but he can't get a library card during Jim Crow in the South because of the color of his skin. This astonishing story of courage and tenacity is based on the true story of Richard Wright. This would be an excellent choice for a young historical fiction book club.
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