The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians [Hardcover]

Carla Morris (Author), Brad Sneed (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 31, 2007 | Age Range: 5 and up | Lexile Measure: 720L (What's this?)

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

• Age Range: 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Peachtree Pub Ltd (J); First Edition edition (March 31, 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: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #603,343 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 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

Format: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

Format: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

Format:Hardcover

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

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The boy Who Was Raised by Librarians November 27, 2008

By Carol Wallace

Format:Hardcover

I love this book! As a children's librarian for 18 years it reminded me of the honor it is to share our love of reading with children and be there for them. The story and illustrations are perfect! Every librarian knows this "child", some are boys and some are girls but the joy for the child and librarian are the same as this author's. Excellent book!

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Lacks something. January 3, 2008

By Robert P. Beveridge HALL OF FAMEVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Carla Morris, The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians (Peachtree, 2007)

I have to admit, I expected to like this book a whole lot better than I did. The subject matter seems almost tailor-made for me, a person who almost defines the term "book geek," and who many years spent more time at libraries than I did at home. It didn't work for me, though. I think much of the problem stems from the writing itself, which seems to lack the natural cadence and rhythm often found in childrens' books. Still, the subject matter is great, if you've got a bookworm at home; I'd suggest, however, pulling this one out of the library and giving it a good going-over before parting with your cash. ** ˝

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book! June 3, 2012

By M. Townley

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is seriously one of the funniest books I have ever read. As someone who is a librarian, I get a lot of laughs at the excellent portrayal of librarians - they're not portrayed as being ugly or matronly - rather they are portrayed as helpful and loving individuals who have a major impact upon a young boy's life. This is really a great book for your child - or as a gag gift for a librarian!

5.0 out of 5 stars WONDERFUL STORY!! June 30, 2010

By KM ALLEN OWENS

Format:Hardcover

Wonderful book about a little boy who grows up loving books with the help of three wonderful librarians.

4.0 out of 5 stars Makes you want to visit your local library! April 30, 2009

By JBebe VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I picked this book up at the library while there with my toddler, and the illustrations caught my eye and I just had to read it! It turns out that the author is a children's librarian at the local library where my husband and I used to live, where we used to go all the time!

This is a book about a smart young boy named Melvin who spends a lot of time at the library (reminds me of Matilda), where he makes lifelong friends of three librarians. These librarians help him learn and research things using the resources at the library and their enthusiasm for books and learning.

This is a cute book about the joy of reading and the wonderful things to learn at the library. It is also a story about friendship. The illustrations are beautifully-drawn and so fun to look at. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who treasures the joy of reading.