[Nonfiction Wednesday] Celebrating National Library Week With a Children’s Librarian

Fats here.

We are delighted to join the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge 2015 hosted by Alyson Beecher @ Kid Lit Frenzy. We would also be linking our nonfiction choices with our reading themes throughout the year, as well as reading challenges that we have pledged to join this year. Our reading theme for March/April: Grey & Golden, Young & Fleeting – Ruminations on Mortality and Transient Lives.

I will veer off for a moment here from our bimonthly theme and present you with something else. In celebration of National Library Week (April 12-18) here in the United States, I thought it would be a great idea to share the story of Anne Carroll Moore who created libraries for children. I hope that her story will serve as an inspiration to readers who share the same passion for words and reading that she has.

Miss Moore Thought Otherwise
(How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children)

Written by: Jan Pinborough
Illustrated by: Debby Atwell
Published by: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (2013)
Book borrowed from Wayne County Public Library Bookmobile.

I was delighted to find this book on Goodreads while searching for nonfiction titles. Miss Moore Thought Otherwise tells the story of Anne Carroll Moore who established libraries for kids. Anne lived in Maine with her parents and seven older brothers. She was born during a time when people believed that a girl should stay inside and do “girly” things like sewing and embroidery. But Anne thought otherwise.

During those days when Anne was growing up, children were not allowed to go inside libraries. Yes, you read it right. Kids were NOT allowed to be in a library. At the time, people dismissed the importance of reading for children — not even for girls. Crazy, wasn’t it? I grew up reading books and I would make frequent visits to the library when I started going to school. We didn’t have that many public libraries in the Philippines but schools usually have their own library. That’s still better than having zero access to it as a child.

The book goes on to tell the story of how Miss Moore ended up studying law like her father. It wasn’t until several years after her parents died that Anne learned about employment opportunities for women as librarians. So she did what any determined person would: she studied at a library school and was eventually hired as a librarian. Yay! Girl power!

The acrylic paintings of Debby Atwell reflected the vibrant life that Miss Moore had, especially when she started working as a librarian. Miss Moore Thought Otherwise is not just a book about Miss Moore herself but also about how children’s libraries came about. Miss Moore had made so many contributions to provide a warm and loving environment for children where they can read and have fun at the same time. She had inspired libraries to create a room dedicated solely to children’s materials. I am lucky to be working for a library with a huge and beautiful children’s department.

Miss Moore Thought Otherwise is a Junior Library Guild selection. If you enjoy learning about amazing people and incredible stories, I recommend this book. It is an awesome book about a woman who understood the importance of literacy and the powerful effect of books on children. Anne Carroll Moore’s story is full of hope and inspiration.

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While we’re on the subject of National Library Week, we are having a “Check It Out!” program in our library at Wayne County Public Library in Wooster, Ohio. In celebration of National Library Week, patrons who check out library materials from April 13-18 will receive a raffle entry for a chance to win a Kindle Fire. One entry per library user, per day. On top of that, they will also receive a FREE MOVIE coupon that they can use for 1 express movie of their choice. This expires on May 23rd. Other stores in the downtown area are also participating and patrons must show their library cards in order to avail of their promotional offer for that week. Yay!

What about you? Anything cool happening in your library this week?

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If you enjoyed today’s feature for Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday and are interested in reading more books about libraries and librarians, the links below provide a list of these books. Have fun reading!

1. Picture Books About the Library! – a list from Goodreads
2. Favorite Stories About Libraries and Librarians – provided by Reading Rockets

#nfpb2015 Challenge Update: 22 of 25