Review Detail

‘Library Girl: How Nancy Pearl Became America's Most Celebrated Librarian’ by Karen Henry Clark, illustrated by Sheryl Murray, tells the story of young Nancy, a girl who loved books so much that she felt different than the other kids. It isn’t until she finds other people who share her love of reading that she feels whole, more than just the “library girl” that her classmates have dubbed her.

Growing up in Detroit, Nancy learns quite young that her neighborhood library is open on Saturdays. Since she can’t be at the school library on the weekends, she begins her visits to her local branch, where Nancy’s very own celebrated librarian, Miss Whitehead, provides her access to a world beyond her imagination, but still within it, as she began to travel to distant places, make new friends, and learn new ideas, all in the comfort of the pages of a book.

She takes her bike, Charger, to the library as often as she can, and discovers quickly that she also wants to be a librarian and help children discover their dreams like Miss Whitehead has helped her to discover her passion in life. Nancy begins giving book talks at the library, and over time, she begins to see her dream come alive in others, as they read their own stories and make their own memories from them.

The illustrations are endearing—especially the images next to people of what they are reading and acknowledging in books. The story is also one that will resonate with anyone who loves something more than they can even say. Nancy’s love of books drives her. It moves her to show that love to others and make them just as passionate as she is about whatever it is they love. It is a kindhearted, relevant story that will encourage anyone’s love of reading.