Hooray for Librarians!
April 16th is National Librarian Appreciation Day, also known as National Librarian Day. Public and school librarians are absolutely essential members of our communities, providing books, events, information, and services to everyone from preschoolers to retirees. They are one of the pillars of our democracy, now more than ever; they are our friends and heroes in every way, every day.
In honor of these defenders of the right to read, the CBC has curated a selection of titles that celebrate librarians, libraries, and their important place in our world.
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Abuela’s Library, by Lissette Norman; illustrated by Jayri Gómez (HarperCollins) — Cultural Diversity, Family / Community, Places / Travel, Imagination / Play, ages 4-6.
Dear Librarian, by Lydia M. Sigwarth; illustrated by Romina Galotta (Macmillan Publishers / Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)) — Biography / Memoir, Places / Travel, Family / Community, Kindness / Generosity, ages 4-6.
Don’t Check Out This Book!, by Kate Klise; illustrated by M. Sarah Klise (Hachette Book Group / Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) — Humor, Mystery / Thriller, Government / Politics / Law, Friendships, ages 7-12.
Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller, by Breanna J. McDaniel; illustrated by April Harrison (Penguin Random House / Dial Books) — Biography / Memoir, BIPOC Characters and Creators, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Places / Travel, ages 4-6.
The Horseback Librarians, by Jane Yolen; illustrated by Alexandra Badiu (Albert Whitman & Company) — Places / Travel, Historical Fiction, Kindness / Generosity, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, ages 4-6.
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A Library, by Nikki Giovanni; illustrated by Erin K. Robinson (HarperCollins / Versify) — Imagination / Play, Places / Travel, Art / Performing Arts, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, ages 4-6.
Library Girl: How Nancy Pearl Became America’s Most Celebrated Librarian, by Karen Henry Clark; illustrated by Sheryl Murray (Sasquatch Books / little bigfoot) — Biography / Memoir, Social Emotional Learning, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Places / Travel, ages 4-6.
The Library of Ever, by Zeno Alexander (Macmillan Publishers / Square Fish) — Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Places / Travel, Action / Adventure, ages 7-12.
Library on Wheels: Mary Lemist Titcomb and America’s First Bookmobile, by Sharlee Glenn (ABRAMS / Abrams Books for Young Readers) — History, Biography / Memoir, Places / Travel, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, ages 7-12.
The Lost Library, by Jess McGeachin (Penguin Random House / Viking Books for Young Readers) — Imagination / Play, Places / Travel, Friendships, Action / Adventure, ages 4-6.
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The Lost Library, by Rebecca Stead, Wendy Mass (Macmillan Publishers / Square Fish) — Fantasy, Mystery / Thriller, Places / Travel, Action / Adventure, ages 7-12.
A Love Letter to My Library, by Lisa Katzenberger; illustrated by Rob Sayegh Jr. (Sourcebooks / Sourcebooks eXplore) — Places / Travel, Imagination / Play, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Action / Adventure, ages 4-6.
The Midnight Library, written & illustrated by Kazuno Kohara (Macmillan Publishers / Square Fish) — Imagination / Play, Places / Travel, Animals, Friendships, ages 4-6.
Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children, by Jan Pinborough; illustrated by Debby Atwell (HarperCollins / Clarion Books) — Biography / Memoir, History, Places / Travel, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, ages 7-12.
The Night Library, by David Zeltser; illustrated by Raul Colón (PRH / Random House Studio) — Imagination / Play, Places / Travel, Action / Adventure, BIPOC Characters and Creators, ages 4-6.
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Orson and the World’s Loudest Library, by Laura Gehl; illustrated by Stephanie Roth Sisson (Astra Publishing House / Astra Young Readers) — Social Emotional Learning, Places / Travel, Family / Community, Kindness / Generosity, ages 4-6.
Our Incredible Library Book (and the wonderful journeys it took), by Caroline Crowe; illustrated by John Joseph (Floris Books) — Places / Travel, Imagination / Play, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Action / Adventure, ages 4-6.
Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré, by Anika Aldamuy Denise; illustrated by Paola Escobar (HarperCollins) — Biography / Memoir, Cultural Diversity, Places / Travel, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, ages 4-6.
Pura’s Cuentos: How Pura Belpré Reshaped Libraries with Her Stories, by Annette Bay Pimentel; illustrated by Magaly Morales (ABRAMS / Abrams Books for Young Readers) — Biography / Memoir, BIPOC Characters and Creators, Cultural Diversity, Immigrant Experience, ages 4-6.
Richard Wright and the Library Card, by William Miller; illustrated by R. Gregory Christie (Lee & Low Books) — Biography / Memoir, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Government / Politics / Law, BIPOC Characters and Creators, ages 7-12.
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Ronan the Librarian, by Tara Luebbe and Becky Cattie; illustrated by Victoria Maderna (Macmillan Publishers / Roaring Brook Press) — Humor, Places / Travel, Imagination / Play, Action / Adventure, ages 4-6.
The Story Seeker: A New York Public Library Book, by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb; illustrated by Iacopo Bruno (Macmillan Publishers / Square Fish) — Historical Fiction, Places / Travel, Mystery / Thriller, Action / Adventure, ages 7-12.
The Tiny Hero of Ferny Creek Library, by Linda Bailey; illustrated by Victoria Jamieson (HarperCollins / Greenwillow Books) — Action / Adventure, Animals, Imagination / Play, Places / Travel, ages 7-12.
Tomás and the Library Lady, by Pat Mora; illustrated by Raul Colón (Penguin Random House / Dragonfly Books) — Places / Travel, BIPOC Characters and Creators, Historical Fiction, Family / Community, ages 4-6.
Write to Me: Letters from Japanese American Children to the Librarian They Left Behind, by Cynthia Grady; illustrated by Amiko Hirao (Charlesbridge) — Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, History, Biography / Memoir, Government / Politics / Law, ages 4-6.
Check out more Diversity booklists and resources, and our Inclusivity Resources.
