The Boy Who was Raised by Librarians written by Carla Morris and illustrated by Brad Sneed
I can think of worse people to raise a child than librarians; lots worse. In fact, as someone who's always had at least one library card in his pocket, I can pretty closely identify with young Melvin, The Boy who was Raised by Librarians. Melvin wasn't really raised by the librarians - Marge, Leeola, and Betty - at the Livingston Public Library, but he sure tried. He went there every day after school, finished every Summer Reading program, attended every story hour, and eagerly awaited every "Spend the night at the library!" party. Those three librarians adored their most loyal patron and answered his every question and gave him guidance on every project.
They couldn't help it. That's how librarians are!
Melvin repaid their kindness by making Leeola, Betty, and Marge as proud of him as if they had raised the boy: his hours in the library made him the best student in Livingston for sure and maybe in the whole state. His love of libraries never dwindled, either: one day another little boy came to the desk where Betty, Marge, and Leeola sat; but now there was a new librarian to help him find answers to his questions. Guess who!
A children's librarian herself (in Provo, UT), first-time kid's author Carla Morris has created a splendid little morality play about how librarians are there to help kids whatever their questions and whatever their projects. As Morris often repeats, "That's how librarians are!" Me, I'm all for anything that will teach kids to love books and libraries, so I wholeheartedly support Morris (and Betty, Leeola, and Marge). It's been a long time since librarians were sour-faced spinsters who "shushed!" my every whisper...
Morris is joined by Brad Sneed, who's illustrated some twenty previous children's books. His detailed watercolors of the Livingston library (and its three librarians) depict the library as a warm and welcoming wonderland. Since the story follows Melvin from his boyhood to a young man, the librarians age as well - quite gracefully, though Betty appears to have owned an endless succession of identical "I (heart) cats" buttons.
This large-format book, just thirty-two pages long, is intended for children in grades K-3. That's about the age of Melvin when we meet him on page one. The language might be a little advanced for younger kids, but the illustrations of bugs and books and giant eggplants that accompany many little lessons about what a librarian can do ought to hold their attention quite nicely. Though not as "sing-song" as many books for kids this age, the text does contain a repetitive theme and - if you ask me - a truth every child should learn: "That's how librarians are!"
Note: Like many (in fact most) of the books I read, I checked The Boy who was Raised by Librarians out under the watchful (and helpful) eyes of Susan, Kathy, and Michelle - my little local library's version of Marge, Leeola, and Betty (though none of them wears an "I (heart) cats" button).
This submission is an entry in laurashrti's National Library Week Writeoff (Laura's a librarian, herself). To my local librarians and everyone in every library everywhere, a heartfelt Thanks! for everything! in honor of the upcoming National Library Week (April 13-19, 2008.
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