Are Librarians Really our Favorite Subject?
Follett is emailing offers of free copies of The Library Lion. I saw this book on the Eric Carle Museum’s new book shelf the other day. I can’t wait until Booklist reviews it.
A lion walks into a library. (So far so good). And there’s the uptight librarian Miss(!) Merriweather who’s only concerned with…rules. Is the lion breaking any library rules? No? Well then he can stay, as long as he’s quiet. I do believe I even spotted a card catalog. Ah, the good ol’ days.
You know, I wouldn’t be so annoyed by this book if I weren’t so turned off by these frequent attempts by publishers to suck up to librarians. How many mediocre kids books about librarians do they expect us to by? They know we’re all out here, thinking about what books to read to the little kids on the first day of school. They know we’re the ones with the book budgets. And who wouldn’t love a charming little book that told a good story as well as introducing the concept of library to little kids? Well, you know what, I would. So publish one!
Oh, and Follett includes a darling little plush lion. Let the love fest begin.
Hey Pam,
You’ve probably already read this but, here is what Booklist has to say about Library Lion. Elizabeth
From Booklist
PreS-Gr. 2. This story’s appealing premise is clear in the first sentence: “One day, a lion came to the library.” There’s the expected uproar as the lion pads through the stacks, but librarian Miss Merriweather only asks: “Is he breaking any rules?” The lion is not, and so he is allowed to stay. He makes himself useful and enjoys story hour until Miss Merriweather falls and breaks her arm. The lion roars for help, but his noise prompts a scolding from an uptight, oblivious staff member. The story falters a bit as it explores messages about rules and exceptions in a way that feels both purposeful and a bit convoluted. The warm friendships will easily draw interest, though, as will the handsome, nostalgic pencil-and-acrylic illustrations. Children will easily see themselves in the wild lion, which yearns to explore and enjoy the library but worries about the constraining rules. A fine partner for other library tales, such as Judy Sierra’s Wild about Books (2004) and Lauren Child’s But Excuse Me That Is My Book (2006). Gillian Engberg
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28 Aug 2006 at 10:16 pm