The Boy Who Was Raised By Librarians

by Carla Morris, Brad Sneed (Illustrator)

Overview

This humorous tale of a curious young boy and his single-minded quest for knowledge is a heartfelt and affectionate tribute to librarians everywhere.

Every day after school Melvin goes to the library. His favorite people—Marge, Betty, and Leola—are always there behind the reference desk. When something interests Melvin, his librarian friends help him find lots and lots of books on the subject.

As the years pass, Melvin can always find the answers to his questions—and a lot of fun—in the library. Then one day he goes off to college to learn new things and read new books. Will he leave the library and his friends behind forever?

Readers will enjoy Brad Sneed's delightful illustrations that colorfully capture the fun-loving spirit of Carla Morris's story about the contagious enthusiasm of learning.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781561453917
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	03/06/2007
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.33(d)
Lexile:	720L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Carla Morris received bachelor's and master's degrees in library science from Brigham Young University and was a children's librarian for over thirty years. The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians was inspired by a child who spent a lot of time in her library, ultimately growing up both to work and get married there. She lives in Utah.

Brad Sneed studied design at Kansas University and is a designer, fine artist, and illustrator of more than twenty picture books, some of which he has also written. He lives in Kansas.

Editorial Reviews

"Morris is-you guessed it-a children's librarian herself, and her enthusiasm for the field permeates her narrative. But it's Sneed's animated, startlingly accurate depictions of contemporary libraries that make the story engaging. . . Sneed makes it possible for readers to smell the very bindings of the books and hear the shuffle of feet across the carpeted floor. This title will be a surefire hit with librarians."—School Library Journal

★ "A curious boy discovers the library is the best place to be and librarians are the best people to know in this lighthearted homage. . . Morris clearly gets what makes librarians tick, and Sneed's humorous watercolor illustrations capture the soul of 'how librarians are' in his perfect renditions of the mission-driven Marge, Betty and Leeola in action. Kids should get a kick out of the geeky Melvin, his supportive clan of nurturing bibliophiles and his so-very-logical career choice."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

From the Publisher

K-Gr 3
Little Melvin loves his library, and his librarians-Marge, Leeola, and Betty-are his very favorite people. As he grows up, they help him learn about his world and explore all kinds of things. And when Melvin finishes college, he chooses to join the noble ranks of their profession and help other children learn wonderful things just like he did. Morris is-you guessed it-a children's librarian herself, and her enthusiasm for the field permeates her narrative. But it's Sneed's animated, startlingly accurate depictions of contemporary libraries that make the story engaging. Librarians will also recognize other, less prominent details incorporated into the background, like the covers of several Caldecott Award-winning picture books, successfully rendered in miniature with just a few deft brushstrokes of watercolor. Morris delivers a quaint story, but Sneed makes it possible for readers to smell the very bindings of the books and hear the shuffle of feet across the carpeted floor. This title will be a surefire hit with librarians; whether or not it will also appeal to children is more difficult to predict.
—Catherine ThreadgillCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal