The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians [Hardcover]

Carla Morris (Author), Brad Sneed (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

This humorous tale of a curious young boy and his single-minded quest for knowledge is a heartfelt and affectionate tribute to librarians everywhere.

Every day after school Melvin goes to the library. Everything has its place in the library and Melvin likes it that way. And his favorite people--Marge, Betty, and Leola--are always in their places, behind the reference desk.

When something interests Melvin, his librarian friends help him find lots and lots of books on the subject. When he collects creepy bugs in a jar, they help him identify, classify, and catalog the insects. When he is cast as the Enormous Eggplant in the school play, Betty reads aloud from Organic Gardening to help him find his motivation. As the years pass, Melvin can always find the answers to his questions--and a lot of fun--in the library. Then one day he goes off to college to learn new things and read new books. Will he leave the library and his friends behind forever?

Readers will enjoy Brad Sneed's delightful illustrations that colorfully capture the fun-loving spirit of Carla Morris's story about the contagious enthusiasm of learning.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3—Little Melvin loves his library, and his librarians—Marge, Leeola, and Betty—are his very favorite people. As he grows up, they help him learn about his world and explore all kinds of things. And when Melvin finishes college, he chooses to join the noble ranks of their profession and help other children learn wonderful things just like he did. Morris is—you guessed it—a children's librarian herself, and her enthusiasm for the field permeates her narrative. But it's Sneed's animated, startlingly accurate depictions of contemporary libraries that make the story engaging. Librarians will also recognize other, less prominent details incorporated into the background, like the covers of several Caldecott Award-winning picture books, successfully rendered in miniature with just a few deft brushstrokes of watercolor. Morris delivers a quaint story, but Sneed makes it possible for readers to smell the very bindings of the books and hear the shuffle of feet across the carpeted floor. This title will be a surefire hit with librarians; whether or not it will also appeal to children is more difficult to predict.—Catherine Threadgill, Charleston County Public Library, SC
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Young Melvin spends his free time at the library. Three librarians, Marge, Leeola, and Betty, become his family--always happy to see him, help with his homework, and share his interests, even when it means Melvin's bugs escape their jar, and creepy crawlers invade the Livingston Public Library. Time passes, and the librarians help Melvin win a spelling bee; in high school, he takes a job as a page. When he goes to college, he misses his friends. In a heartwarming ending, another little boy comes to the library with questions, and Melvin is the new librarian, ready to help. Morris, a librarian herself, has clearly seen kids whose real home is the library, but it is rather unsettling that neither parents nor caretakers are ever mentioned. That said, this effectively shows the solid bond that can develop between librarians and their young patrons. Sneed's artwork, full of interesting perspectives, neatly personalizes the women, even if Melvin does look a bit nerdy. Overall, this paean to librarians will be nice to have on hand. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishers; First Edition edition (March 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561453919
• ISBN-13: 978-1561453917
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 11 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #535,084 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The humorously exaggerated yet playful color illustrations add the perfect touch to this warmhearted and upbeat children's story, May 12, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians (Hardcover)

Written by children's librarian Carla Morris, The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians is a joyful picturebook about Melvin, a young boy who grows up with three librarians as some of his most cherished friends - not only do they help him find information, but when he needs it the most, they help him find his motivation and achieve as much as he can. "In fourth grade, Melvin entered The Complete and Unabridged A-to-Z Spelling Bee. Marge suggested he read the 100th edition of 'Words to Know' every day after school. Not surprisingly, he won first place." But when Melvin grows up and goes off to college, he has to leave the library and his friends behind - forever? Or not! He keeps in touch with his librarian friends through letters, and years later, new librarian comes to work - Melvin himself! The humorously exaggerated yet playful color illustrations add the perfect touch to this warmhearted and upbeat children's story.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians, August 7, 2007

By 

A. Dickson (Provo, Utah) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians (Hardcover)

Such a heartwarming story! Cleverly written and illustrated, this book proudly proclaims the joys of the library. Though written for children, library lovers of any age will be entertained and touched as they watch Betty, Marge and Leeola "raise" Melvin, their curious and intelligent patron.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely adorable, May 2, 2007

By 

Children's Librarian (Centerville Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians (Hardcover)

Kudos to Carla Morris for capturing a librarians love of both children and knowledge! May we all have a Melvin!