The Children Who Loved Books

PreS-Gr 1—Angus and his sister, Lucy, do not have much in the way of material goods, but they do have a camper home, loving parents, a pet cat and chicken, and hundreds of books. The books "…were stacked here and piled there, balanced, propped and shoved in all kinds of odd places." When their collection finally overflows the tiny camper, pouring out of doors and windows, their parents decide that the books must go. But without all those volumes, Angus cannot reach the camper's windows, the kitchen table wobbles, and the extra room creates an unwelcome space in this close-knit family. Fate steps in when a library book falls out of Lucy's bag. The family discovers the joy of reading together and soon visit the local library, where each family member leaves with a towering stack of books. Carnavas's simple text is matched by his pitch-perfect illustrations that feature ample white space, soft colors, expressive characters, and a profusion of colorful books. The whimsy of the cat and chicken is an added bonus. This celebration of books and libraries is ideal for storytime or individual sharing.—Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH