The first time my twins stepped foot in a library they couldn’t yet walk. I was a new mom of twins and we had just moved to what felt like the middle of nowhere. It was a small town in rural Wisconsin and it was January. Desperate to not be inside my house for another moment, I loaded them up in our car with our massive double stroller and drove to the library.
I grew up going to the library every week. My dad would walk me and my brother and sister the maybe half mile to the library. We’d spend a while reading and wandering and picking out books and then we walked home. I have fond memories of spinning through the racks of Babysitter’s Club and Nancy Drew books, of filling out my summer reading program lists, and watching the librarians hand stamp each card in our books. As an adult I didn’t make time for the library, until I had kids.
That one trip to the small, cozy library with my twins and I was hooked again. We started going weekly to load up on new books to read, attend story time (which was a bit more like trying to carrel crazy monkeys as they both tried to crawl in opposite directions), and see actual grown up people who could talk and stuff. My kids loved crawling all over a new place. I loved being somewhere different and books. Oh, books. Those I’ve never stopped loving.
So here we are. My babies are ten years old now. We’ve moved three times since that little town in Wisconsin, but we still go to the library every week. No stroller is needed anymore and my kids check out their own books, but it is still one of our favorite days of the week.
This list is to celebrate the magical place that is the library. The place that has brought so much joy to my family’s life and to those of countless others I’m sure. And to the wonderful librarians who are an enormous reason why libraries are as fantastic and welcoming as they are.
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19 Picture Books about the Library
1. Library Lion
by Michelle Knudsen
illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
I love this gentle story about a lion who wanders into the library. It remembers me so fondly of New York City libraries, but also the humor about library rules and behavior and exceptions is lovely. It’s a celebration of these wonderful places with a amusing magical touch.
2. The Detective Dog
Written by Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Sara Ogilvie
A warm, creative, and completely original story. The brilliant Donaldson shares a warm tale of reading, libraries, and a mystery solving dog. One of the things I love most about Julia Donaldson’s stories is that I never see the ending coming. This story is no exception. What starts as a story about a dog takes wild and fun turns to a wonderful place. A celebration of books and reading with an adventure and mystery to propel you through it.
3. The Not So Quiet Library
by Zachariah Ohora
Oskar and Theodore love their weekly trips to the library until one day a monster shows up. The monster is noisy and hungry and doesn’t quite understand what a library is all about. A cute story with gentle humor and full of books. The car loaded down with books to head home on the last page is my favorite.
4. The New LiBEARian
by Alison Donald
pictures by Alex Willmore
The kids are all ready for story time but their librarian is missing. When they search for her they find a bear in her place. This silly story only deals with Goldi Locks and the Three Bears but it’s a fun way to integrate a familiar tale into a story about the library.
5. Lyric McKerrigan, Secret Librarian
by Jacob Sager Weinstein
illustrated by Vera Brosgol
There is a maniac on the lose threatening the fate of all the books, who can save the day? The world’s best super agents fail. Who is left? I admit, I was a little skeptical. A super hero librarian? I mean it’s a cheesy premise and the graphic novel style illustrations, while trendy, could it work? It completely does. The humor is spot on. The action is fun. The character is mysterious and playful. This is just plain entertaining.
6. Chicken Story Time
by Sandy Asher
illustrated by Mark Fearing
Imagine the most popular library story time ever. When one chicken comes to story time everyone has a grand time. When more and more children…and chickens come to story time one librarian has a library that is completely out of control. No worries. This librarian has the perfect solution. Funny, silly, and so much fun to read aloud.
7. OUR INCREDIBLE LIBRARY BOOK and the Wonderful Journeys it Took
by Caroline Crowe
illustrated by John Joseph
A rhyming look at the life of a library book. This is the story, not of the story written on the pages of a book, but of a library book as it’s borrowed and returned, entering life after life. It’s about the crinkles and smudges that end up on the pages of a well loved favorite. It is a fun story with lots of cute details worked into the illustrations to add to the story.
8. The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians
by Carla Morris
illustrated by Brad Sneed
Librarians are special people and this book is a celebration of them. Melvin is a little boy who loves the library and he especially loves the librarians. No matter his stage in life or his varying interests, the librarians are there to guide him and encourage him and help however they can. It’s just one kid and one example, but for anyone who has ever asked their librarian a question and had them jump up to help, this one is for you.
9. Moose’s Book Bus
by Inga Moore
MOOSE’S BOOK BUS is a celebration of reading and sharing stories. Moose lives in a remote area with no library and when he discovers that his neighbors don’t have books he comes up with a solution for everyone. It oversimplifies the issues of illiteracy and lack of books, perhaps, but it’s a positive, problem solving story about spreading a love of reading to others.
10. The Little Library
by Margaret McNamara
illustrated by G. Brian Karas
In this edition of the series on Mr. Tiffin and his class, they meet the new librarian who is one of those wonderful, life altering teachers who really sees their students. It focuses on Jake who reads a little slowly and is more interested in figuring out how the shelves were constructed than in picking out a book. The librarian finds him the perfect book, about wood working and that one book changes everything about his attitude about reading. Love a book about the power of books and this is one of the best I’ve read.
11. The Library Book
by Gabby Dawnay
illustrated by Ian Morris
Finding the perfect book for you is the secret to falling in love with books. A trip to the library doesn’t feel fun when you have yet to discover that joy of reading. In this story, a little girl helps a reluctant reader explore the possibilities of the library. Told with rhyming text and detailed imaginative illustrations, I love how this book patiently celebrates a love of books, genres, and libraries.
12. Love in the Library
by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
illustrated by Yas Imamura
This one is set in a more unique library. Based on the story of how the author’s grandparents met and fell in love, this is a story about love in the unlikeliest of places. Tama and George met and fell in love and got married while living in a Japanese Internment Camp. It is about a love of books, but also about what it means to be human and how we sometimes find hope even in the darkest of situations. It is a gentle, yet powerful story. Beautifully written and illustrated.
13. Dear Librarian
by Lydia M. Sigwarth
illustrated by Romina Galotta
A dear book written to the librarian who changed a little girl’s life. This is a true story that was originally shared on This American Life. When the author was little her large family moved and was temporarily homeless, shuffling between different family members. The library is where she found a home. Somewhere safe and consistent with the kind librarian always there to greet here. It is a true love letter to librarians and the difference they make in lives, often without even knowing it.
14. Nour’s Secret Library
by Wafa’ Tarnowska
illustrated by Vali Mintzi
Set in Damascus, this tells the true story of two kids who saved 15,000 books and created a secret library in a basement during the Syrian civil war. It is a remarkable story of what books can do for people, even in the toughest of times and what two people can do for their community, even when they’re young.
15. The Library Fish
by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
illustrated by Gladys Jose is a much lighter book.
Library Fish is the librarian’s pet fish who lives at the library and falls in love with books. One day when the library is closed due to a snow storm she goes off in search of her own bookish adventures. It’s a little funny and a lot fantastical. I absolutely love the illustrations of the sweet little fish.
16. The Loud Librarian
by Jenna Beatrice
illustrated by Erika Lynne Jones
It is Penelope’s turn to be the student librarian and she is ready! She is the perfect choice…except she is loud. Exceptionally loud. Kids will relate to Penelope. She is an endearing, well meaning protagonist that just has to figure out how to make her dream job fit with who she is. I love the agency the author gives Penelope and the humorous touches along the way.
17. Dreamers
by Yuyi Morales
Based on her experience, this is the story of a mom and her child who immigrate from Mexico to the United States. It is the story of new beginnings and courage and finding a new home and it is a story that celebrates the wonderful gift of libraries.
18. Go Forth and Tell
by Breanna J. McDaniel
illustrated by April Harrison
At a time when Black people could scarcely be found on the shelves of any library, Augusta Braxton Baker became a librarian and was determined to make a difference. Baker was a champion of Black stories, an incredibly storyteller herself, and the first Black person to hold the role of coordinator of children’s services to the New York Public Library branches. The vibrancy and strength of Augusta Braxton Baker is portrayed through the words and beautiful illustrations in this picture book biography. The text carries you from childhood through her career. The illustrations are incredible collaged works of art. A beautiful tribute to an important woman but also to the power all librarians have to shape lives one story, one book at a time.
19. Roar for Reading
by Beth Ferry
illustrated by Andrew Joyner
ROAR FOR READING offers a child friendly discussion of book banning. Julius the lion is upset when some of his favorite books get removed from the bookshelf at the library. He feels a roar coming out and he just can’t stop it. Soon everyone is roaring about books being banned. The book ends with respectful ways kids can ROAR themselves. A timely, well told story about an important issue.
You made my day! I love “A House In The Woods” by Inga Moore and to know there is a new title with Moose coming out is GREAT NEWS! Thanks for the list – some titles I was not aware of.
Oh thank you for commenting! I’m so glad. I had so much fun finding books for this list. The library is my happy place.