National Library Week-Day Two

Dragons in the Library!

Dragons can be very useful. A dragon can guard. A dragon can guide. Leave it to a gifted librarian and a renowned storyteller to show the true worth of these mighty beasts.

NO T. REX IN THE LIBRARY by Toni Buzzeo, illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa, Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010

Tess’s mother puts her in time-out in the library. This child is out of control. Then a rampaging dragon leaps from the pages of a book Tess toppled to the floor and takes Tess on a wild ride through the stacks. Children recognize beastly behavior when they see it in others, just not in themselves. Author Toni Buzzeo is a children’s librarian. She’s seen beastly behavior that would frizzle your curls. Her verses bring out the worst in the rip-roaring T. Rex and Tess cheers him on–but, “Watch out!” Tess shouts. “The books...” Her concern grows amidst knights and pirates, cowboys and cattle. Where will it end? At last Tess shouts the magic words, “Time out! You’re out of control!” What fun illustrator Yoshikawa must have had with this riotous romp through books come to life! Anyone who yearns to instill a love of libraries in children but respect a bubble of quiet for other patrons will love Tess’s line: “No beastie behavior with my library books.” And no beastie behavior in the library, either. Your young readers will get it. Ahh...

More About Dragons

Here’s a classic beloved by children’s librarians everywhere. How honored are those whom their students call, “The Library Goddess.” I know one! So do you. Be proud.

THE LIBRARY DRAGON by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Michael P. White, Peachtree Publishers, Ltd. 1994

The very thought of sticky small fingers smudging book covers and pages gave Miss Lotta Scales, school librarian, heartburn. Almost everything that happened in her library had that effect on Miss Scales. Because, you see, Lotta Scales was a real dragon. The kids at Sunrise Elementary School knew it. The principal and teachers knew it. Parents knew it. But nobody knew what to do about it. And then along came a child with a storyteller’s heart. Could the author see herself in little Molly Brinkmeyer? What do you think? If you’ve read this before, enjoy it again. After all, it’s National Library Week. Why not Library Dragon Day?

We the Dragons

Librarians also guard and guide. They and all library workers are honored with their day today, but they work for us all year. Now it’s time for US to be the dragons. Breathe some fiery impassioned words about libraries and librarians in an email or letter or phone call to your representatives in Congress. Tomorrow is the deadline for being heard regarding budget requests.

Support library funding!

Read details at this American Library Association site: http://capwiz.com/ala
or call Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121