The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq

by Jeanette Winter, Jeanette Winter (Illustrator)

Overview

*ALA Notable Children’s book 2006 *

Celebrated author-illustrator Jeanette Winter weaves a hopeful tale of one woman’s courageous book rescue.

In the Spring of 2003, Alia Muhammad Baker was the city of Basra’s real-life librarian. She was the keeper of cherished books and her library was a haven for community gatherings.

But with war imminent in Basra, Iraq, what could this lone woman do to save her precious books?

With lyrical, spare text and beautiful acrylic illustrations, Jeanette Winter shows how well she understands her young audience.

This true story of one librarian’s remarkable bravery reminds us all how, throughout the world, the love of literature and the respect for knowledge knows no boundaries.
 
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780152054458
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	01/01/2005
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	396,955
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.75(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD640L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

JEANETTE WINTER has written and illustrated many books for children, including MAMA, The Librarian of Basra, Calavera Abecedario: A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book, My Name Is Georgia, and Josefina. She lives in New York City.

JEANETTE WINTER has written and illustrated many books for children, including MAMA, The Librarian of Basra, Calavera Abecedario: A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book, My Name Is Georgia, and Josefina. She lives in New York City.

Editorial Reviews

* "This is an important story that puts a human face on the victims of war and demonstrates that a love of books and learning is a value that unites people everywhere." - School Library Journal? "Winter isolates another true story of everyday heroism against a tragic backdrop. The librarian's quiet bravery serves as a point of entry into a freighted topic. -Booklist "Timely and moving." -Better Homes and Gardens "As spare yet penetrating as the narrative, Winter's boldly hued, acrylic and pen illustrations depict the frantic book salvaging effort against a bright orange and burnt sienna backdrop of bomb- and gunfire-lit skies and the subsequent, heartbreaking library fire." -Publishers Weekly "Created with strength and courage, like Alia's devotion to the books in her charge." -Kirkus   —

From the Publisher

"timely and moving"

Better Homes and Gardens

"a vibrantly illustrated tale of valor and resiliency in the worst of times"

Parade magazine - Jeanette Winter

"timely and moving"

Better Homes and Gardens

Relaying the same story told in Alia's Mission (reviewed below), Winter (September Roses) deftly pares down for a picture-book audience the events surrounding Alia Muhammad Baker's courageous book rescue mission in Basra, Iraq, in spring 2003 (see Children's Books, Dec. 13). She portrays the Basra library as a place where the community comes together not only to read books but to "discuss matters of the world and matters of the spirit." In a typically lyrical passage, the author notes, "Alia worries that the fires of war will destroy the books, which are more precious to her than mountains of gold." As spare yet penetrating as the narrative, Winter's boldly hued, acrylic and pen illustrations depict the frantic book salvaging effort against a bright orange and burnt sienna backdrop of bomb- and gunfire-lit skies and the subsequent, heartbreaking library fire. A clever cross-section image of Alia's house shows the library volumes (which, readers learn in a concluding note, amounted to an astounding 70 percent of the collection) piled on every available surface. Graphically and textually shifting tone from the real to the idyllic, subsequent pages reveal Baker in a serene, dove-filled setting, where she waits for the war to end and dreams of peace and a new library. Winter, ever aware of her audience, mentions Alia's stroke only in the endnote, keeping her story to specifics that youngest readers can appreciate. All ages. (Jan.) FYI: A portion of the proceeds from the book's sales will be donated to a fund administered by the ALA to help rebuild the collection of Basra's Central Library. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

"a vibrantly illustrated tale of valor and resiliency in the worst of times"

— Jeanette Winter

Parade magazine

Living history is not always sweet, but Winter, who has made beauty from contemporary horror in September Roses (p. 815) does it anew. Alia Muhammad Baker was the chief librarian of the Central Library in Basra, Iraq, a meeting place for many and quite near one of Basra's best restaurants. When war comes to Basra, Alia saves the books in the only way she can see: She takes thousands of them to her own home, to the homes of friends, and to the restaurant next door. Alia saved 70 percent of her collection before the library was firebombed and destroyed. Winter tells this story in simple, clear declarative sentences. Her beautiful acrylic-and-pen illustrations are filled with the rose and violet, blue and gold, russet and orange colors of the desert, and she uses pattern to great effect in the shelves and piles of books, in the dark array of planes and bombs over the city, and in the parti-colored headscarves and clothing of the people of Basra. Created with strength and courage, like Alia's devotion to the books in her charge. (author's note) (Picture book/nonfiction. 5-9)

Kirkus Reviews