The New Libearian

Reviewed by: Connie Smith - Breakwater School, Portland, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 12, 2018

Review

"The New Libearian" is a book sure to please. A group of young children patiently await the arrival of their librarian, Mrs. Merryweather, for storytime. When she does not appear, the children begin to hunt for her. They soon discover paw prints here and there around the school. Why, they are even among the books on the shelves and a jar of honey is found over turned on the librarian's desk. The children look up and see a bear! "Will you read us a story?" asks Dee. The children suggest books which are boring to the bear. Finally, the children ask for a different book, an exciting, book and even a scary book. So the bear proceeds to read them a story about a bear who growls, and roars, and stomps. Soon Mrs. Merryweather enters the library. She begins to read "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," to the children. But wait. Where is Baby Bear. "I know you're hiding somewhere," says Mrs. Merryweather and Baby Bear soon steps back into the story. Mrs. Merryweather proceeds with her reading. ". . .and Baby Bear. A little girl comes to their house - but wait- where IS Goldilocks? Now Goldilocks is shown in the illustration sitting in the circle of children listening to the story! This is a clever story. The comingling of the fantasy world and the real world is carried offwell. Kindergarten, first and second graders would all find this funny and engaging. The illustrations are colorful and bold with Baby Bear being predominating in most all of them.

Overall Book Score: excellent