Submitted by Ms. Sue!
Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile by Gloria Houston is the story of Dorothy Thomas, the author’s real life childhood hero, who delivered books to her when she was a child every week. Dorothy was a young girl that loved books. She also loved people. She decided to become a librarian when she grew up, so she could be in charge of a fine brick library, just like the one in her hometown in Massachusetts. She went to college, and then library school, but before Dorothy could become a librarian in a fine brick building, she got married, and moved to North Carolina, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Dorothy’s house was cozy, and she had bountiful gardens of vegetables and flowers, but there was no library, so a meeting was called with all her friends that loved to read, and they decided to start a bookmobile that Dorothy would be the librarian of. When Miss Dorothy’s green bookmobile arrived, everyone came out to see. She kept her donated books in her basement, and everyday she loaded and unloaded her truck with stacks of books that she carried up and down the steep staircase. Miss Dorothy delivered books over hills and valleys to churches, schools, farms, grocery stores, and even the courthouse steps, until finally one day a reader donated a little white house to be used as a library. It wasn’t a fine brick library, but her dream had still come true! See this book listed in our catalog
Libraries or Books
Interrupting Chicken
Submitted by Ms. Catherine!
Looking back, I’d say that I was a precocious child. My parents were very patient with me as I asked: if the road sign said 35, then why did Mommy’s dashboard say 47? They were also patient as I insisted on correcting their reading of bedtime stories. There were the books that I had memorized down to the word, and then there were the books that I insisted had to end a certain way (even if the author did not agree). In Interrupting Chicken, by David Ezra Stein, we meet Little Red Chicken, who is very excited about her bedtime story. She promises her Papa that she will not interrupt the story, but when Hansel and Gretel wander up to that little old lady in her candy house, she just has to jump in and stop them! And when Little Red Riding Hood begins to talk to the Big Bad Wolf, Little Red Chicken just has to jump in and remind Red Riding Hood not to talk to strangers! Finally, tired of all the interruptions, Papa chicken insists that Little Red Chicken tell the last story. Do you think Papa might interrupt? This funny book is a great one to read aloud with your child. You can even come up with your own version of the story, and choose which classic stories you’d choose to interrupt! See this book listed in our catalog
Ruth and the Green Book
Submitted by Ms. Sue!
Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin Alexander, illustrated by Floyd Cooper. Ruth and her parents are taking Ruth’s first road trip, in their first car, from Chicago to Alabama. During the 1950’s, most African Americans couldn’t afford to own a car, so this will be an adventure for Ruth and her parents! It feels funny to Ruth, to see her neighborhood disappear as they drive out of Chicago. Unfortunately, Ruth and her family find out that black travelers are not welcome in many service stations, hotels, or towns, and that they can be turned away due to the “Jim Crow” laws. They have a few bad experiences in places where they are not welcome, and have to spend the night sleeping in their car. Eventually, Ruth and her family are lucky enough to meet a friendly attendant at an Esso station, who shows them a book called “The Negro Motorist Green Book.” It provides a list of places that black travelers can go that will welcome them, and their business. Ruth and her parents are very relieved to have a guide book to help them make a safe journey to Grandma’s house. This story contains factual information about “The Green Book” and how it helped African Americans travel more safely. See this book listed in our catalog
Librarian on the Roof
Submitted by Ms. Catherine!
Here in St. Mary’s County, children are always in and out of our libraries. But in Lockhart, Texas, librarian RoseAleta Laurell couldn’t get any children to come to the library! The Dr. Eugene Clark Library didn’t have a children’s section. RoseAleta realized that something needed to be done. So, when simply asking for money for the library didn’t work, she decided to take things to the next level. RoseAleta decided that she wouldn’t come down from the library roof until the town raised enough money to build a children’s area for the library! In Librarian on the Roof, written by M.G. King, and illustrated by Stephen Gilpin, we see the story of RoseAleta Laurell unfold, with bright, fun illustrations, that will make you smile, and cheer along with the town of Lockhart, Texas as this librarian hero brings books to children of all ages. Based on a true story, this is a great book for children and parents to read together, and then talk about the importance of reading, and the importance of standing up for what you believe in! See this book listed in our catalog
A Mighty Fine Time Machine
Submitted by Ms. Tammy!
A Mighty Fine Time Machine by Suzanne Bloom. Samantha, an anteater, pulling her wagon of books, stops to see what her friends are doing beside a huge box. She finds that Grant (an aardvark) and Antoine (an armadillo) have traded twenty Yummy Gummys, and a bag of Buggy Bonbons, for a box labeled “time machine.” Samantha decides to help the boys, even though she knows they’ve been tricked. After making adjustments, they finally make the time machine roll down the hill, only to topple over, spilling them, and the books, onto the ground. The boys, who are tired, start to read Sam’s books, and give up on the time machine. Sam continues to work on the box, making her own changes, until she has a do-it-yourself bookmobile. Soon friends are stopping by to check out some of the great books at the new bookmobile! See this book listed in our catalog