Customer Reviews

Beverly Billingsly Borrows a Book

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Beverly Billingsly loved books, and she loved the library. On this special day, she finally got her very own library card. She searched the shelves until she found just the book she wanted, a big shiny dinosaur book full of pictures and information. "She couldn't put it down. On Wednesday, after school, she studied the iguanodon. On Thursday and Friday, she read about the ankylosaurus..." Beverly read everywhere, at the table while eating, in bed before sleeping, and even in the bathtub. "On Monday morning, Beverly woke up early to finish the final chapter, "Eating Habits of the Triceratops." As she turned the last page, she saw, stamped inside the back cover: RETURN BY APRIL 7." It was April 8th..... Alexander Stadler has written a delightful and humorous, true to life story with a reassuring, satisfying ending that is sure to put a smile on every little library-lovers face. His gentle and entertaining text really captures the essence of a preschooler as Beverly works herself up into a panic over the consequences of an overdue book, and his charming, bold and bright artwork adds to the fun. Perfect for preschoolers, Beverly Billingsly Borrows A Book is Mr Stadler's debut picture book, and hopefully the start of a new and marvelous series.

Young Beverly, a grey bearish kind of animal, is simply beside herself with pleasure at finally acquiring a library card of her very own. With the assistance of the bird-like librarian Mrs. Del Rubio, she checks out a book on dinosaurs. Beverly loves her selection, reading continuously throughout the week. When the due-date on her book passes, Beverly begins to panic. Her friends at school unhelpfully advise her that fines will almost certainly be assessed, "Oh, like a thousand dollars, I think" and one schoolmate even tells her that jailtime is a possibility.

After waking from a nightmare where she's threatened by a dinosaur (sporting red hair and cat eye glasses very similar to Mrs. Del Rubio's) growling, "Return meeeee! I am overduuuuuuuuuue!" Beverly's mom reassures her that "Nobody ever went to jail for an overdue library book."

Happily, Mrs. Del Rubio is able to sort everything out, and Beverly meets Oliver, another dinosaur enthusiast at the library where they are able to start an after school Piedmont Dinosaur Club.

I love this book on so many different levels. First of all, it describes how libraries work and what to expect in very simple, relatable terms:
One must have a library card to check out books.
Getting a library card requires filling out a form.
It does not take very long to acquire a library card.
Books that are borrowed should be returned by the due date.
Late books will have fines.
Getting a fine on your library card is not an insurmountable problem.
Libraries can be used as a social space to meet with friends.

It explains all of that, but it is also really very humorous! The book is ideal for reading aloud. The gouache and ink illustrations take up most of the page and the heavily bolded outlines of the pictures make it easy for children to see, even from a distance. There's ample opportunity for using different voices for the various characters. The comic timing of the book is genius. Additionally, if one is running short on time, or faced with an antsy audience of preschoolers, the book can be ended a bit early, on the page where Beverly returns her book. If reading it with older groups of children, you can read all the way to the end where Beverly co-founds the Dinosaur Club.

Beverly's childlike blend of earnestness, enthusiasm and worry reminded me of the Frances books by Russell Hoban. Librarians everywhere should have this in their arsenal of sure-fire, crowd-pleasing picture books.

Great book! Lots of humor. I loved reading and my 4-yr-old daughter loved hearing it. Also, I love how the girl and boy at the end form the dinosaur club (shows girls and boys sharing same interests), and love the unconventional-ness of a girl being interested in dinosaurs. Promotes the use of public libraries and proper care of books. I will definitely be checking out the rest of the books in this series and the rest of the books by this author!

Alexander Stadler's simple story resonates with my 4 year old daughter. The idea of taking responsibility for a library book is just exactly where she's at. Knowing that the consequences for for being a day late will not be prison or a million dollar fine is kind of fun to explain.