Top Ten Tuesday: Books with X in the title

 This week's topic is books with X in the title. For my X, I'm choosing books with LIBRARY in the title.

I'm choosing picture books that I LOVED:

 

Picture Book Biographies:

Bonus: Nonfiction

Have you read any of these too?

Reivew: Miss Morgan's Book Brigade

 

Jessie Carson takes a break from her micromanaging boss who is overly critical and NYPL. She's hired as a librarian for the American Committee for Devastated France. WWI is still going on; Jessie thinks she can help. Her eyes are opened when she sees the French countryside. 

The library needs to be rebuilt, but Jessie isn't about to let that stop her. She knows the power of books and stories. Right away she bonds with the other CARDS - even though most of them are donating their time. Jessie isn't a debutant, but she fits right in.

People need shelter, food, and most importantly hope. The CARDS drop by for social visits and to distribute food. Jessie tags along and showcases books. Soon she starts storytime out in the community. Her story is lost to history until one library worker finds her name in the archives at NYPL. Wendy Peterson researches the CARDS and Jessie. She wants to share the story of these amazing and brave women. 

My Thoughts: This book hooked me from the beginning. I enjoyed the dual perspectives from Jessie and Wendy. I love how Wendy found Jessie's story and was determined to share it. I'm so impressed by these women - they helped so many people. I love how they persisted with the different villagers. Those poor people went through so much - the war, the loss, the grief, and trying to pick the pieces back up. I loved the relationships in this book. I loved the moments of research and time inside the library. This was such an inspiring read! 

Cover Thoughts: Well done

Library Recommendation: This book is sure to be a book discussion book. A must have book for library collections. 

Picture Book Wednesday: A Library

A young girl loves the library - and all that it holds. Traveling to other worlds, trying new things, and being someone else - all between the pages of a book. 

My Thoughts: I love books about books and libraries. This is an adorable story about a girl and her grandmother. I love the illustrations. This is one to share for sure!

Review: Killer Research

 

* Book 12 in the Library Lover's series *

The mayor race is heating up in Briar Creek. The Lemon, Ms. Cole, has a definite advantage. But things take a turn when a body's discovered in her car. She has no idea what happened, but rumors are flying.

Lindsey and Beth vow to uncover the truth before Ms. Cole does something she'll regret- like drop out of the race. Lindsey can't believe that Ms. Cole had a rebellious youth, but sometimes rumors don't lie. Could someone be targeting Ms. Cole to keep her from becoming the next mayor?

My Thoughts: I loved this one. I loved learning more about Ms. Cole. I must admit I've grown to like her and even admire her. Which if you told me when I read the first book, I would have laughed. But she's grown on me. And I really hope that she becomes Mayor and shakes things up for the town. As always, it was great to see my favorite characters and catch up with them. I always love the chatter about books and authors (especially the Pride and Prejudice conversation). And there was even a Castle (tv show) reference!   I can't wait to see what happens next. 

Cover Thoughts: Fantastic

Source: My library

Library Recommendation: A must have series for your library's mystery collection.

Picture Book Review: Library Books Are Not for Eating

Ms. Bronte is a wonderful teacher....minus the problem that she loves eating books. No one can convince her otherwise except for the soccer coach. He has a brilliant idea. 

A really fun story about the love for books and how they taste. Great illustrations. The last little bit makes me think there might be a sequel in the works. Which would be most welcome. 

Picture Book Review: Dear Librarian

 

Lydia's family didn't have a home for a while and they moved in between relatives. But once they discovered the library, Lydia found a home there. She loved all the space but more importantly she loved the librarian. Lydia became friends with the librarian and it changed her life.

Such a sweet story that tugs at your heartstrings. It's sad but also hopeful. This story touches on homelessness and needing a place to belong. It touches on the kindness of others, especially family. But most importantly it touches on feeling safe and welcome and important. I loved how Lydia's librarian changed her life. Librarian friends are so important. This love letter to libraries and librarian made me tear up. It also made me proud to be a librarian. The illustrations are soft and inviting. This is one special picture book.

* Book sent for review

Picture Book Wednesday: Where is Our Library?

 

The lions are puzzled when during their nighttime visit to the library, they discover all the books are gone! They're on a mission to undercover the truth about the missing books.

Patience and Fortitude enjoy a romp all over New York City. I enjoyed how they sought out answers and even more when they traveled to other branches of the NYPL system. I love how they love reading and discover new favorites and love old favorites. I love the artwork. Another winner in this series - and this reader desperately hopes for more books about these lions.

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for school and public libraries - what library doesn't want a book about library and book loving lions?

Review: Don't Check Out This Book

Rita B. Danjerous and her daughter May just moved to the sleepytown of Appleton. Rita is the new school librarian and her daughter is in the 5th grade. They stir up the town.

Mrs. Danjerous gets kids reading with her green dot collection - a collection of books that kids don't need to check out of the library. These books contain answers to questions they might find embarrassing. While the students love them, the school board president is not a fan.

In fact, she tries to stop the collection from circulating. While she has a few tricks up her sleeve, she also has her own secrets. Who will win?

My Thoughts: I loved this book. I adored this author and illustrator's series 43 Old Cemetery Road. I loved the puns, the epistolary novel, tethe green dot collection, the friendships (both Rita B. Danjerous and Gladys Friday and Sarah and May). I loved the friendship between the students and how they rallied around books. Another great book for these sister collaborators.  I would love to see these characters again!

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: A great book for your school and public libraries - highly recommended!

Also this book is perfect for Banned Book Week and talking about censorship.

Review: Mr Lemoncello's All-Star Breakout Game

* Book 4 in the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series *

Mr. Lemoncello has a new game and he's showcasing it live on television. Of course Kyle and his friends want to be a part of it. Kyle and Charles have been fighting  - again. Kyle almost loses his chance to participate, but at the last moment he's awarded a spot to compete.

The new game will take place in an immersive world where each team must unlock the clues from five rooms, each room featuring a different book genre. The clues will allow them to open the lock to win the game.

Kyle and his friends will be competing again Charles and his teammates as well as a secret guest star team.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book - I loved the library and the new game. I enjoy Mr. Lemoncello's love for books and how he wants the world to read for fun. I enjoyed the showdown moment between Kyle and Charles. I enjoyed how the game brought everyone out of their comfort zone. I love the book mentions and the bookish jokes. Of course, I'd love to visit this fictional library. 

One thing I don't understand is why Charles is still allowed to compete in the games. After his previous behavior, it seems like he would be banned...

Cover Thoughts: Fun
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: Grab this fun series for your school and public libraries. The readers will eat them up.

Picture Book Review: Lost in the Library

One morning Fortitude worries that Patience isn't back on the stone before the sun rises. He worries what will happen if New York wakes up to discover only one lion in front of the library. So, he does something he's never done before - he goes looking for Patience in the library.

My Thoughts: Of course I loved this one! It's about the lions in front of NYPL. It's about friendship and stories and discovering new places. It's an adorable book.

Library Recommendations: A must have book for public and school libraries.

Fresh Fiction Review: Hitting the Books

* Book 9 in the Library Lover's series *

I reviewed this one on Fresh Fiction

Picture Book Review: Library Book

If you're bored - hit the library. There's always something entertaining there. 

I loved this book - from the cute illustrations to the book that come to life when you read. I loved seeing favorite book characters. This is a sweet and fun read.

Library Recommendation: Grab this one for school and public libraries! 

Review: Library on Wheels

Mary Lemist Titcomb believed in education, but didn't want to be a nurse (She felt faint at the sight of blood) or a teacher. When she read an advertisement for a librarian, she knew she found her place. And she was right.

She worked in Vermont, at the Rutland Free Library. She built up her reputation so much that she was asked to move to Maryland and help start their library. So she did. When she realized that their population was so spread out, she created the first bookmobile and made sure everyone had access to books.

I loved this book; it was fascinating. I loved that she never backed down ever through people told her she wasn't good enough, she was just a girl, or she couldn't make it happen. She was good enough and of course she made it happen. She made the library come alive.

I never knew about this amazing woman who had ties to the town so close to where I grew up in Vermont. Here's a photo of the current Rutland Free Library, which is a different building than when Miss Titcomb was the librarian. 

Photo Credit: digital.vpr.net

I almost didn't purchase this book for the library collection, but I'd so glad that I did.

Library Recommendation: Library on Wheels should be in public and school libraries!

Another great library read:

Review: Death in the Stacks

* Book 8 in the Library Lovers series *

Lindsey and her staff are getting ready for their annual fundraiser - a night of dinner and dancing in the library. It's supposed to be a magical night - and it would be in her board president wasn't trying to insult everyone.

Olive Boyle just took over as the library board president. She has a talent for making everyone's life miserable. She's threated the library, Lindsey's job, and spoke ill of Paula. After the dinner, her body's discovered in the stacks with Paula leaning over it.

Lindsey knows that Paula didn't kill Olive, even if she does have a secret past. While Lindsey vowed not to investigate, she's reluctantly pulled back in; she must figure out who murdered Olive before things for the library turn really bad.

My Thoughts: I love this series and I loved this book even more because of the crossover with characters from other books series by the same author. It was charming to see everyone in the small Connecticut town. I loved seeing old friends. I really enjoyed the mystery here - with Olive's terrible personality there were many suspects. The personal lives of the sleuths are also great - I love seeing where Lindsey lands. I also really like Emma and Robbie together. Another fantastic chapter in the series! Can't wait for the next book.

Cover Thoughts: Charming, as usual
Source: My library
Library Recommendation: This cozy series about libraries is a must have for public libraries.

Middle Grade Review: Switched

* Book 4 in the Fairy Tale Reform School series *

Gilly's still not thrilled with her schooling situation, she loves the new school idea. But she's not happy with one of her new teachers. Plus her sister is still missing.  She's finding it hard to concentrate when all she wants to do is save the day - again.

Even though the royal court swears they will take care of it, there is no news. Should Gilly strike out on her own and figure things out?

My Thoughts: I loved this book. I loved the addition of the new royal family - the librarian and her husband. I loved learning about the library, it sounded amazing. I really liked A.G. and how Gilly helped her realize her true potential but also fit into the school. I felt terrible for Gilly for most of the book. I can't wait to see where the new spin-off series goes, because there are questions I need answered!

Cover Thoughts: Charming
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: Grab this series for your school and public libraries.

Top Ten Tuesday: Fictional Libraries I Want to Visit

I'm changing up this week's top ten because it's National Library Week, so I'm talking about Libraries in books.

Of course this is the first library the comes to mind!

And obviously the second!

Other libraries in no particular order:

And I don't know, but it seems like a superhero library would be amazing!

Adult Review: Undateable

Unbeknownst to her, a moment of hangriness becomes captured and turns her into a meme. The Disapproving Librarian makes it rounds and her life blows up. The local online magazine wants to do a series on her. At first, Bernie says no, but then circumstances change.

She agrees to go out with 30 guys in 30 days and prove that she's undateable. Bernie's sensible feminist approach to life has her believing that a make-over and new clothes isn't going to hook her prince charming any time soon. But she's also not one to back away from a challenge.

The reporter, Colin, really needs this series of articles to be a hit to secure his job. He's determined to help Bernie out as much as possible and to prove her wrong. But all the dates she's going on has him thinking that maybe her approach to life isn't wrong...

My Thoughts: I really liked this book. I liked the librarian parts. I enjoyed the awful first dates. I really liked the articles and how they changed over the course of the month. I loved Colin's sister. I loved Bernie's feminism and her beliefs. I liked the magazine angle and the staff members. An enjoyable romance that left me looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Cover Thoughts: Doesn't really scream librarian to me...but it is cute.
Source: My Library
First in a new series.

Library Recommendation: A fun read for your public library's romance section. 

Cozy Review: Better Late Than Never

 * Book 7 in the Library Lovers Series *

Much to the dismay of Miss Cole, Lindsey decides to host an Amnesty Day at the library. People are returning tons of books. When a copy of Catcher in the Rye turns up after twenty years, the staff is pleased with the condition - until Miss Cole realizes who checked out the book.

It was checked out by a local teacher - on the day of her murder twenty years ago. More than a little curious, Lindsey takes the book the police, wondering if the clue can help solve a cold case. She's not above asking questions and sniffing out answers.

But could twenty years be too late? Or is the returning of the book proof that the murderer is back in town?

My Thoughts: I loved this book - for the library scenes, for the Nancy Drew mention, for the Cupcake series  shout out, for the friendships, and for the romance. I love the characters in this book series, especially the library workers. They complete the series for me. I loved the plot line of a twenty year old book reopening a murder case. I love how Lindsey searched for clues with the help of Robbie. I loved meeting the high school librarian (and her flirtation). I loved the moments between Lindsey and Sully. This series is always entertaining and enjoyable reads. I can't wait for the next one.

Cover Thoughts: Love it!
Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have series for all cozy collections.

Review: Ink and Bone

* First in a new series *

In a different world, the library of Alexandria survived. The library governs the people, selecting knowledge to filter to the people.

People are no longer allowed to own books and the libraries have scribes creating the books. While the printing press was designed, the library disposed of Gutenberg and any one else with a similar idea.

Jess's father works as a book smuggler. He decides that Jess's value lies in his future - at the library as a spy. He forces Jess to take the entrance exam. Jess passes he exam and heads off for basic training.

And that's where everything changes...Jess isn't sure who to trust. The Library's orders seem out of place. Jess knows he'll have to use all his wits to get himself out of the mess.

My Thoughts: I really liked the idea of this book and I enjoyed the book. It took me about 50 pages to get into in and then I was hooked.

I loved the idea that knowledge was power. And whoever controlled the knowledge controlled the world.

I really liked the differences between those in training with Jess. I liked the romances, the friendships, and the enemies. I liked how they all had to come together eventually and learn to trust each other. 

I liked the alternate history and the what if questions.

I really liked Scholar Wolfe - he grew on me as the book continued.

I can't wait to see what happens next.

Cover Thoughts: Interesting - I love the books on the bottom
Source: My Library