The Little Library (Mr. Tiffin's Classroom)

Gr 1-2—Mr. Tiffin's class visits the new library at school and meets Librarian Beck. While the students excitedly explore, Jake feels out of place and wanders to a shelf where he "studied the bookcase to see how the pieces fit together. He ran his finger along the grooves in the wood." The astute Librarian Beck brings him Woodworking for Young Hands and Jake immediately recognizes many of the pictured tools from his grandfather's workshop. The librarian assures him that even books with many pictures count as reading. Jake slowly begins to read and take notes, while the librarian allows him to continue to renew the book and finds other similar titles for Jake. When the school year draws to a close and all books must be returned, Jake uses his woodworking skills to build with a little library where students can share books all summer. A brief note at the end describes the Little Free Library program. The realistically drawn gouache-and-pencil drawings depict the multicultural class alongside their supportive teacher and librarian, whose pronouns are they/them. VERDICT Gently illustrating that every book has its reader, this story of a reluctant reader assisted by a helpful and welcoming librarian is another solid addition to Mr. Tiffin's classroom series.—Ramarie Beaver, formerly at Plano P.L., TX