Library Girl - Karen Henry Clark - ★★★★.¾

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AUTHOR: Karen Henry Clark
ILLUSTRATOR: Sheryl Murray
GENRE: Children's Picture Book
PUBLICATION DATE: September 27, 2022
RATING: 4.75 stars.

An amazing picture book narrating the inspiring story of the celebrated librarian Nancy Pearl.

Nancy Pearl has been a librarian, among various other social positions, for many years. She has had a lifelong passion of reading. There’s even an action figure modelled after this amazing woman. This little picture book brings to us her story.

Nancy loved reading more than anything else and spends all possible free time at her school library. The other kids teased her as “library girl.” One day, when she is speaking with her school librarian about not being able to come to the library on Saturdays, the kind librarian tells her about public libraries. Off sets Nancy on her beloved bicycle to the Francis Parkman Branch Library at Detroit. And here the world of wonderment opens up to her. But her shyness doesn’t go away easily and it takes two amazing librarians to help Nancy discover the power within her.

The book is a beautiful tribute to two things that all of us readers love – books and libraries. Every page of this story is filled with an ode to the power of reading and how it can unfurl your imagination.

The illustrations have a fantastical kind of vibe to them. They look almost as if they are glowing. I was mesmerised by the quality of the art – it offers such a wonderful tribute to the magic of books.

The vocabulary level is quite suitable for ages 5-9.

Definitely recommended not just to know more about an amazing public personality but also to understand the difference a book can make in your life.

My thanks to Sasquatch Books, Little Bigfoot, and NetGalley for the DRC of “Library Girl”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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