Little Free Libraries

I love going to the library. It’s a place of comfort. A place where anything can happen. All you have to do is reach for a book, open it, and begin reading. Magic happens! When I was young, I spent many happy hours at our town library, searching for the just-right book. A library is a place where you can find hidden treasures.

I love books – especially children’s books. (After all, I’m a former elementary school teacher and school librarian, and I’m a children’s author.) Fiction and nonfiction picture books, middle-grade and young adult books are my books of choice. I not only read books but I collect them. When books started piling up on the floor of my office, I realized I had too many. There is no way I would ever want to get rid of all of them. My granddaughters would never forgive me. But there are some I’m willing to give up.

Enter The Little Free Library. I first started seeing these cute little structures that house books around Madison, WI. I’ve been fascinated by them ever since. They are popping up in neighborhoods across the country. TAKE A BOOK. LEAVE A BOOK. It’s also a perfect way to share books and bring joy to others.

Taking photos of these Little Free Libraries has become a hobby of mine. Whenever or wherever I see one, I snap a photo. Below are some of my favorites.

Maybe it’s time to invest in a Little Free Library of my own.

Here is a wonderful book that tells the story of Todd Bol and his movement to promote books and literacy through Little Free Libraries.

Little Libraries, Big Heroes written by Miranda Paul and illustrated by John Parra, Clarion Books, 2019

Give Your House Soul

A quote credited to Plato says, “A house that has a library in it has a soul.” Give your house a soul and build a home library.

When children open a book, they open a door to new places, new ideas, and new adventures.

 

Be a role model and let your children see you reading. Share lap time and read to them.

With a home library, you can create an atmosphere of learning and cultivate the love of books. If buying books too expensive, visit your neighborhood library. Make a special go-to place in your home for those library books, and keep it overflowing with a variety of genres.

The Traditional Library

The Bedroom Library

The Basket Library

The Canvas Bag Library

Jump-start your child’s learning potential with books. Speech, communication, thinking skills, vocabulary, and hours of delight are all benefits to be reaped from reading books!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Library Card – Don’t Leave Home Without It

September is National Library Card Sign-up Month. Do you have a library card? Do your children have library cards? If you don’t have one or your children don’t have one, waste not a moment more. Get thee to a library and sign up for a card today. It can change your life.

What is a library? It’s a home away from home. Today’s libraries are not the libraries of yesteryear. Step into a modern library and be amazed by all they have to offer. Not only are there books, CDs, DVDs, e-books, magazines, and newspapers, there are also computers, printers, copy machines, story hours, teen programs, adult programs, homework centers, summer reading programs, and many more valuable resources to benefit everyday living. If not for yourself, get a library card for your children. Libraries offer the tools to enhance the educational development of children and keep them on the right track. Libraries are the place to be!

Along with taking full advantage of the public libraries, I’m happy to see Little Free Libraries popping up in many different places. Can you guess where these were spotted?

Don’t know? Here are some picture hints.

Both of these Little Free Libraries are in and around the spaces below.

Any thoughts?

It’s time for the reveal.

The first Little Free Library is in …

The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway in Boston.

The second Little Free Library is in Boston’s North End.

Whether it’s the public library or a Little Free Library, libraries are invaluable! Take advantage of what they have to offer!

Huzzah for Libraries and Librarians!

It’s National Library Week and School Library Month. What would we do without our beloved libraries and librarians? Both are treasures not to be overlooked or underestimated.

Whether a library is …

big,

small,

public,

or in a school,

libraries open doors to new worlds.

They shake up your imagination. They offer a wealth of knowledge, and as this year’s theme says, there are “Unlimited Possibilities @ your library.” They’re places where miracles can happen. Make the library a happy, go-to place for you and your family. And if you If you have questions, seek guidance from a librarian. They’re all-knowing!

Below are some of my favorite fiction and nonfiction picture books that pay tribute to libraries and librarians.

Library Lion written by Michelle Knudsen and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes

Bats at the Library written and illustrated by Brian Lies

The Library written by Sarah Stewart and illustrated by David Small

Miss Brooks Loves Books! (and I don’t) written by Barbara Bottner and illustrated by Michael Emberley

Stella Louella’s Runaway Book written and illustrated by Lisa Campbell Ernst

Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile written by Gloria Houston and illustrated by Susan Condie Lamb

A Library Book for Bear written by Bonny Becker and illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton

Wild About Books written by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Marc Brown

Book! Book! Book! written by Deborah Bruss and illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke

The Library Dragon written by Carmen Agra Deedy and illustrated by Michael P. White

Aunt Chip and the Great Triple Creek Dam Affair written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco

The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians written by Carla Morris and illustrated by Brad Sneed

Waiting for the Biblioburro written by Monica Brown and illustrated by John Parra

Library Lil written by Suzanne Williams and illustrated by Steven Kellogg

Please Bury Me in the Library written by J. Patrick Lewis and illustrated by Kyle M. Stone

That Book Woman written by Heather Henson and illustrated by David Small

Tomás and the Library Lady written by Pat Mora and illustrated by Raul Colón

Richard Wright and the Library Card written by William Miller and illustrated by Gregory Christie

“L” is for Library written by Sonya Terry and illustrated by Nicole Wong

Biblioburro:  A True Story from Colombia written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter

Miss Moore Thought Otherwise written by Jan Pinborough and illustrated by Debby Atwell

My Librarian Is a Camel written by Margriet Ruurs

The Librarian of Basra:  A True Story from Iraq written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter

Do you have any favorites to add?

For some inspiring quotes about libraries and librarians, click here.

In the Neighborhood

It’s a beautiful Little Free Library in the neighborhood! While on a walk, I discovered this library in my neighborhood park. Families donated time and money to install the Little Free Library for everyone in the neighborhood to use. The day I stopped by, it was packed full of great books for children and adults.

Keep those Little Free Libraries coming!

On the Lookout for Little Free Libraries

I found another Little Free Library, and look how adorable it is. It has everything you could ask for.

It has books.

It has a comfortable sitting area.

In case your thirst for books gets to be too much, it has a water fountain.

And if your dog likes to read with you, there’s a special watering hole for him, too!

Aren’t Little Free Libraries amazing?

Little Free Libraries Popping Up

Down the street

In Search of Little Free Libraries

On a bike path

Little Free Libraries

Have you noticed? Little Free Libraries are popping up everywhere. One may be just around the corner from you. Keep your eyes open for these adorable little libraries. It’s an ingenious concept. “Take a book, return a book.” Books are suddenly accessible on your way home from school, on your way to work, on a pleasant walk after dinner. Reading is important so why not add a Little Free Library to your front yard and share the wealth of reading!

Look what I found while riding around my neighborhood!

Have you seen a Little Free Library in your neighborhood?

Library Love

Home away from home!