Great Library Books about the Library, of course!!

Here is a list of books we read at the beginning of the year to understand what a library is in our lives as students and humans in the world.  I always want students to know that what I teach them inside our library doors makes a difference outside the doors of our school as well. 

Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen; illustrated by Kevin Hawkes:

This is a well-written tale with dreamy illustrations that make you just want to fall into the book  A lion comes to visit the public library and the head librarian lets him stay as long as he learns not to roar.  The lion arrives early every day for storytime and finds joy in helping the librarians by dusting encyclopedias, licking overdue notices, and as a step stool for small children.  He loves being the library lion until Miss Merriweather falls and he roars to get help.  The kids love the idea that the lion is forgiven and invited back to the library-after all libraries truly are generally very forgiving places! 

Reading Makes You Feel Good by  Todd Parr:

This is a great list book with perfectly silly illustrations and is a perfect starting point for young listeners to see how important reading can be in their lives.  It has a catchy "refrain" of and you can do it anywhere!, which students love to repeat with you.  At the end I relay how I carry a book with me everywhere so I can read if I'm left waiting in line, stuck in traffic, or waiting at an appointment.  All the reasons to read are touched on in the book (using your imagination, recipes, following directions, traveling to new places are just a few), which provides students with a bigger reason to read than just schoolwork-or "because my teacher makes me!"  Kids will love the illustrations and Todd's word choices.

B is for Bookworm; A Library Alphabet written by Anita C. Prieto is a very informative text on all the many aspects of a library.  It begins with A is for Author;  There are thousands of books on the library shelves, just waiting for you and me.  They were written by people who love to create.  Do  you know who those people might be?  There is also tons of information in a sidebar about each topic but I didn't read that part to students.  This book introduces lots of great library vocabulary and I found a great teacher's guide by Patricia Pierce.  Of course I found the lesson plan after I had read the book but I be ready with it next year!

The Boy who was Raised by Librarians by Carla Morris; illustrated by Brad Sneed:

I read this book with third grade students and they loved the idea of how helpful each librarian was at this public library.  Melvin is one curious child (we all know a Melvin or two) and he wants to know a little about everything...Marge, Betty and Leeola are the librarians who help him find out everything he is interested in.  The librarians created by Sneed are a treat and happily look like really lively librarians.  One curious child in my story circle did inquired "Where are his parents?"- we never do meet them-it is the 3 librarians who stand with him as he graduates from high school.  A nice surpise ending that will have each child smiling at the end!

The Library Pages by Carlene Morton; illustrated by Valeria Docampo:

This is a new addition to our library and students really got the whole book but then were still surprised by the ending.  The librarian is at home on maternity leave and gets a mysterious video package from students.  It seems the guest teacher likes to sleep while the "Library Pages" or helpers organize/destroy the library!  My students had shocked looks on their faces and are so happy when they find out the joke is on the sweet librarian at home!

There are many other great choices to teach library lessons-these are just a few I used this year.  What are your favorites?