Description
Product description
Review
“With little information available about libraries of the world, this title offers a glimpse into the world of books, which several countries consider as important as air or water. This might be an interesting revelation to many students who consider reading a laborious task and to those who take an abundance of books very much for granted.” — School Library Journal
“One of the more unusual books about libraries, this may also get kids thinking about children in other countries in a way that the series books never do.” — Kirkus Reviews
“The easygoing and accessible narrative would work well as either a readaloud or as a text for independent readers. . . . Well organized and engaging.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
About the Author
Margriet Ruurs loves to visit her local library. She writes children’s books and educational materials and conducts author visits in schools across the United States and Canada. She lives in Shedd, Oregon.
Do you get books from a public library in your town or even in your school library? In many remote areas of the world, there are no library buildings. In many countries, books are delivered in unusual way: by bus, boat, elephant, donkey, train, even by wheelbarrow. Why would librarians go to the trouble of packing books on the backs of elephants or driving miles to deliver books by bus? Because, as one librarian in Azerbaijan says, “Books are as important to us as air or water!” This is the intriguing photo essay, a celebration of books, readers, and libraries.
Amazon Customer –
Teacher 247
SO important and diverse at the same home.
Judy K. Polhemus –
Have books, will travel
“Neither rain nor snow, nor sleet nor dark of night shall stay these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” The postman’s creed, you say? Yes, but now it applies to a new group of people: mobile librarians.Margriet Ruurs, writer and educator, read a newspaper article describing the mobile library in the desert areas of Kenya. She began to wonder if children in other remote areas receive books. Thus began the scrapbook of mobile libraries from all over the world. After Ruur made the contact, librarians shared stories and photographs of their unique mode of book delivery. Ruur includes a total of thirteen mobile libraries. Each shows a two-page spread containing a map insert of the country’s location, a box about the area, and the story and photographs of each mobile library in action.Because there are thousands of islands in Finland’s geography, the library goes to the children by boat. In the northern Lapland region of the Artic, a book bus serves Lapp children in Finland, Sweden, and Norway.In Mongolia a book minivan and a horse-drawn wagon take books to the herders’ children in the Gobi desert. In Azerbaijan a blue truck serves refugee settlements. The children love their “library-in-a-truck.” In fact, the librarian wrote: Because these children have nothing, not even school, “the mobile library is as important as air or water.”Loaded with crates of books, elephants are library assistants in taking books to children in northern Thailand. Homeless children in Bangkok have access to a classroom and library in old, transformed train carriages in stations around the city.The most dedicated delivery of books occurs in Papua New Guinea, where trucks with four-wheel-drives go as far as they can. Then the librarians tote boxes of books on their shoulders for four hours. As they come to each village, they drop off books and medical supplies. In a few weeks they will repeat the process.Ruur leaves a few questions unanswered. Who funds these libraries? Who funds these books, as surely all are not returned. She mentions one foundation in Mongolia, where there is almost no illiteracy! Other readers may be curious and want to participate.Ruur makes clear the importance of the mobile library. What matters is that children are being served where they are. This is a very fine book about dedication at its best and and a promotion of the love of reading in the most unlikely places. Every school library in the United States should buy this book and every librarian should share it with her students, if only to show that children everywhere love books!
Kristina –
great book!!!
I love the wide variety of ways people get the books they want to read around the world and this book was one of the best I have ever read. My favorite way was the kids who got there books by elephant.
Polly Glotz –
Delightful book about the lengths people go to to get books to kids
Having myself built a small library in Haiti with donated and second hand books I gathered from flea markets and my cousin’s parish thrift store in Paris, I was delighted to see the lengths others go to to put books in children’s hands. Literacy is the key to ending poverty. This one is a new favorite along with “Biblioburro.” I read it to my grandkids,donated it to my sister who is a teacher and bought another copy for my daughter who is also a teacher.
Erin –
Was hoping for more of a story…
The book consists of several examples of how children receive their library books all over the world. I was expecting it to be more of a story instead of an informational text because I think my students would access it more easily that way. Nevertheless it is still interesting to see all the ways children read books around the world.
Erin O. –
Great quick read!
I’m stuck in quarantine and trying to find books to capture both my and my 3 year olds attention. This book is interesting, informative and educational.
KimPor –
Great Read About Children Around the World
As a preschool teacher, I’m required to expose my children to multi-ethnic and multi-cultural components. At the end of the school year, before they go to Kindergarten in the fall, we talk about the things that they will do at school and the people they will see. One of those things is going to the library to pick out a book to take home and the librarian. This book illustrates to American children children in other parts of the world “go to the library”. The photos are fun and colorful and it amazes my 4s & 5s to see that children get to the library in different ways. Adults like this book too. Our parents and staff are always wanting to borrow it. Very informative and educational for children and adults, especially those who are librarians.
Orange Azalea –
Could be more story like
I’d read glowing reviews of this book in a read around the world summer book club, and was excited to read it to my children. Unfortunately although the book has nice illustrations and great information that’s all there is to it, information. I am well aware information can be given in story form, so I was disappointed that it didn’t tell the stories of people visiting or running libraries around the world with a more literary tone. While I was willing to go with it and keep reading my children (8 and 4) have yet to give it a second chance. It’s still sitting on our shelves, waiting for the day when someone becomes interested in it.
Bonnie G. –
Good book
My grandson enjoyed the book.
Cac –
Excellent book
Excellent book. Teaches children about the value of books to children around the world. I used it in my classroom to expose children to different cultures and the value of books.