Did you have an influential librarian in your life? I vividly remember visiting our school library as a child, and I have lots of memories of our librarian. There are several books that I remember her reading to us, and I now enjoy reading them to my daughter.

As a teacher, I had the opportunity to work in the school that I grew up in. I was even able to work with that same librarian. At the 5th grade moving up ceremony one year, she read Dr. Seuss’s Oh the Places You’ll Go to the whole room. As I was preparing to graduate from grad school myself, it brought tears to my eyes. It reminded me the power that librarians can have to introduce kids to books and the power of words. Today I decided to honor these special people with this list of children’s books about librarians and the power that they have to open our eyes!

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Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré*

Written by Anika Aldamuy Denise and illustrated by Paola Escobar

This beautiful book introduces the reader to Pura Belpre, the first Latina librarian for the New York Public Library. She traveled to New York City in 1921 and decided to make it her home. She got a job at the New York Public Library, and became a storyteller, puppeteer and author. Her goal was to bring her favorite stories from childhood in Puerto Rico to America.

The story follows her from her first visit to New York through her lasting legacy of championing bilingual literature. The text includes lots of Spanish vocabulary. (There are not any translations, so parents and teachers will want to pre-read the text first). The illustrations are vivid and colorful, showing the happiness that Pura brought to countless children and adults, as well as the lasting impact she had.

That Book Woman

Written by Heather Henson and illustrated by David Small

Cal is a young boy who lives high up in the Appalachian Mountains and has no interest in reading. When a woman comes by his family’s house with books to share, he doesn’t understand why his sister is so excited. But no matter the weather, the book woman continues to bring books every few weeks. Eventually Cal decides that these books must be important in order for the woman to continue making the trek. So he asks his sister to teach him to read.

This story of the Pack Horse Librarians explores this dedicated team of librarians who brought books and resources to remote regions. The text is written with lots of shorthand and colloquialisms, begging the reader to add a bit of twang to their voice. The illustrations are soft and gentle, highlighting the tough lifestyle of the family living high in the mountains.

Related Post: 14 Children’s Books Celebrating Books & Reading!

Tomas and the Library Lady

Written by Pat Mora and illustrated by Raul Colon

Tomas is a young boy whose parents are migrant workers. After spending his days working in the fields, his family gathers around to hear his grandfather tell stories. When his grandfather realizes that Tomas knows all of his stories, he tells him he is old enough to visit the library. The kind librarian introduces Tomas to a world of books, reading and learning that changes his life.

Based on the life of Tomas Rivera, this story celebrates the power of books and libraries, as well as the connections that we can make over them. The descriptive text recognizes the amazing world that opens up for children when they discover books for the first time. The sharp and imaginative illustrations bring the stories on the pages of his books to life.

Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile

Written by Gloria Houston and illustrated by Susan Condie Lamb

Dorothy always knew that she wanted to be a librarian. So she went to school and got her degree. She was ready to work in a big library like the one she grew up with. But when Dorothy and her new husband move to a new home in North Carolina, there aren’t any libraries. The neighbors decide to raise money for a bookmobile, so Dorothy can bring books to everyone. This story celebrates the importance of sharing books and bringing resources to everyone. The illustrations are beautifully detailed, showing the harsh conditions that she traveled in to bring books to everyone.

Librarian on the Roof! A True Story

Written by M.G. King and illustrated by Stephen Gilpin

This book tells the story of RoseAleta Laurell, a librarian at the Dr. Eugene Clark Library in Texas. When she starts working at the library, she is concerned that there aren’t a lot of people visiting. She is especially worried that there aren’t any children! So she takes it upon herself to change the perspective of the community, so children no longer believe that the library is only for adults.

Her elaborate plan to raise money for the library soon captures the community’s attention. She will live and work on the roof of the library roof until they raise enough money to make some changes. The inspiring story is sure to entertain readers who will cheer for RoseAleta and her dedication to reading, while the colorful and energetic illustrations showcase her dramatic plan.

Related Post: How Books Can Shape Our Lives

Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children

Written by Jan Pinborough and illustrated by Debby Atwell

This story introduces readers to Anne Carroll Moore. Miss Moore created the first children’s room at the New York Public Library. Many times, children were not allowed to touch the books in the library, for fear that they would damage them or forget them. So Miss Moore created an oath for libraries to use to teach kids about library manners and book handling. She worked hard to make her children’s room into a colorful place, welcoming children in to explore all the wonder that books can hold. The story celebrates the importance of encouraging kids to dive into books and reading, while the brightly colored illustrations complement the story perfectly.

Lyric McKerrigan, Secret Librarian*

Written by Jacob Sager Weinstein and illustrated by Vera Brosgol

This hilarious tale follows a young girl named Lyric McKerrigan who is tasked with saving the world’s books. When the evil Doctor Glockenspiel threatens to send his giant army of moths to eat all of the books in the world, Lyric steps in to save the day, one book at a time. She uses just the right books to distract the guards, save the other secret agents, and even distract the giant moths. This funny story celebrates the power of finding a great book. The funny and brightly colored cartoon style illustrations capture the reader’s attention.

Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians, the

Written by Carla Morris and illustrated by Brad Sneed

Melvin is a young boy who spends most of his time in his local library. He wants to learn about everything, so he befriends the librarians who enjoy books and learning as much as he does. As he grows up, his librarian friends help him learn about the world, inspiring him to pass on their lessons when he grows up. This tribute to librarians and the power of their legacy is accompanied by beautiful illustrations full of familiar library settings and lots of fun details.

The New LiBEARian

Written by Alison Donald and illustrated by Alex Willmore

In this imaginative story, the librarian is late for story time. The children start to worry and go off in search of clues. Instead of finding the librarian, they find a bear in her place! They encourage the bear to read aloud to them and laugh as he growls and roars through a story. When the real librarian appears, she knows just what to do. This creative tale about the power of books and imagination is paired with vivid illustrations that celebrate the wonder of the library and the many worlds found within the pages of a book. Check out the fun activities that we paired with this book here!

Library Lil

Written by Suzanne Williams and illustrated by Steven Kellogg

This tall tale shares the story of Lil, a young girl who loved to read and grew up to become a librarian. She’s determined to encourage the people of Chesterville to turn off their televisions and open up the books in her library. But when Bust-’em-up Bill and his motorcycle gang come to town, he’s upset that Lil has turned the whole town into readers. Will Lil be able to turn this group of TV loving tough guys into bookworms? This funny story pairs well with Kellogg’s entertaining illustrations.

What are your favorite books about librarians? Do you have special memories with a librarian in your life? Share in the comments below!

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