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By. Sylvia Bishop

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Dancing With Tammi Sauer (The Librarian)

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Dancing With Tammi Sauer (The Librarian)

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Dancing With Tammi Sauer (The Librarian)

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7 books with great library scenes to read during Library Week

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7 books with great library scenes to read during Library Week

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Scholastic Blog

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This week is National Library Week, and I am always eager to celebrate my favorite place! Some of my fellow bloggers and I recently shared our favorite memories of going to the library ( you can read those here!), so this week, I wanted to share some of our favorite fictional scenes that take place in the library!

1. When I Grow Up by Tim Minchin, illustrated by Steve Antony

This book is a beautiful combination of Tim Minchin's tony Award-winning lyrics from Matilda the Musical (hello, iconic library scene!) and Steve Antony's artwork. It follows a group of children as they imagin all of the things they will be able to do once they grow up. One of my favorite spreads is this image of the four kids in the library!

2. The Magician's Hat by Malcolm Mitchell

The first picture book by Super Bowl champion and literacy crusader Malcolm Mitchell is ALL about the power of libraries! It is set in a library on Family Fun Day, when the librarians bring in a magician who shows kids that the best magic of all can be found in a book.

3. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Like any true book nerd, Hermione is my kindred spirit (and, let's be honest, there is an amazing library scene in every Harry Potter book because what's better than the Hogwarts library?!), but this quote has to be one of my favorites:

"Harry -I think I've just understood something! I've got to go to the library!"

And she sprinted away, up the stairs.

" What does she understand?" said Harry distractedly, still looking around, trying to tell where the voice had come from.

"Loads more than I do," said Ron, shaking his head.

"But why's she got to go to the library?"

"Because that's what Hermione does," said Ron, shrugging. "When in doubt, go to the library."

4. The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

In The Parker Inheritance, twelve-year-old Candice Miller finds a letter that contains a series of clues that lead her and her friend Brandon Jones down a path to solve a puzzle that leads them deep into their town's history, full of ugly deeds and forgotten heroes. But before all of that happens, there are also some really great scenes that happen with Candice and Brandon - who are both book lovers! - in the town library.

Early on, Candice and her mom go to the library to sign up for library cards and Candice introduces Brandon to some of her favorite authors, like Judy Blume.

Candice and Brandon also return to the library throughout the book - it's where they learn about the Negro Leagues and about Althea Gibson, the African American woman who won Wimbledon in 1957.

Suffice it to say, if you're looking for fellow library lovers, The Parker Inheritance is the perfect read!

5. Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callender

"I love the library, and I've spent many of my afternoons there, so I think it's possible that the answers I need-everything I need to know about the woman in black-can be found here."

Caroline Murphy, the main character of Hurricane Child, loves the library just as much as I do! It's the place she turns when she needs answers t her questions about the spirit that seems to be following her.

6. Sparrow by Sarah Moon

In Sparrow, the school library is a place of solace for 14-year-old Sparrow. Mrs. Wexler, the school librarian, is the one teacher who really understood her. She let her eat lunch in the library office and knew exactly what books Sparrow would love. But when Mrs. Wexler dies unexpectedly, Sparrow's world unravels.

Sparrow's road to healing is a beautiful one to read, and the story of the difference Mrs. Wexler made to her is one that stayed with me long after I finished.

7. Hold Fast by Blue Balliett

"Inside this building, the world had felt generous, limitless, like a safe spot for dreams to grow."

Libraries and books are at the core of this beloved book by Blue Balliett! Eleven-year-old Early Pearl's father, Dash, works as a library page with the Chicago Public Library's Harold Washington branch where he sorts, shelves and processes books, and his dream is to one day get his library science degree. But when Dash mysteriously disappears and danger starts to close in on the Pearl family, Early decides that she's going to follow the clues to track down her father.

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Do you have a favorite scene that takes place in a library? I'd love to hear about it! Tweet us @Scholastic with your recommendations!

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7 books with great library scenes to read during Library Week

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This week is National Library Week, and I am always eager to celebrate my favorite place! Some of my fellow bloggers and I recently shared our favorite memories of going to the library (you can read those here!), so this week, I wanted to share some of our favorite fictional scenes that take place in the library!

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By. Uma Krishnaswami

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By Shannon McClintock Miller, Music by Emily Arrow

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By. Oliver Jeffers

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'The Incredible Book Eating Boy' by Oliver Jeffers

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By Shannon McClintock Miller, Music by Emily Arrow

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By Michael Mark and Tom Chapin

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By. Shannon McClintock Miller. Music by Emily Arrow

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By. Shannon McClintock Miller, Music by Emily Arrow

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Featuring Emily Arrow, Story by Shannon McClintock Miller

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FIND A BOOK music video by Cantata Learning and Emily Arrow

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If You Ever Want to Bring a Circus to the Library, Don't!

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If You Ever Want to Bring a Circus to the Library, Don't!

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By.  Elise Parsley

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By Patricia C. Mckissack

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By.Carmen Agra Deedy

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Carmen Agra Deedy, author and storyteller, reads her book "The Library Dragon."

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Down Cut Shin Creek: The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky

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Down Cut Shin Creek: The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky

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By Jeanne Cannella Schmitzer

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by Lucia Gonzalez

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By. Kate Bernheimer

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By. Gloria Houston

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By. Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton

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By. Jackie Mims Hopkins

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Goldisocks and the Three Libearians by Jackie Mims Hopkins

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By. Tad Hills

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By. Judy Sierra

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Miss Brooks Loves Books....and I Don't! 

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Miss Brooks Loves Books....and I Don't! 

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By Barbara Bottner

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By Carla D. Morris

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The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

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The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

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The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

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By. Bonny Becker

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A Library Book for Bear by Bonny Becker - Stories for Kids - Children's Books Read Aloud Along

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By. Lane Smith

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It's a Book by Lane Smith -- Book Trailer

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By Louise Yates

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By Pamela Zagarenski

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By. Laura Numeroff

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By. Mark Pett (and no one else)

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By. Dan Yaccarina

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By. Mac Barnett

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by Annie Silvestro

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By. Anna McQuinn

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The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

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The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

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By William Joyce, Joe Bluhm

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By. Zachariah OHora

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By Chris Grabenstein

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By. Brian Lies

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By. Marc Brown

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By. Daniel Kirk

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By. Toni Buzzio

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My Librarian Is a Camel How Books Are Brought to Children Around the World

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My Librarian Is a Camel How Books Are Brought to Children Around the World

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By Margriet Ruurs

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My Librarian Is a Camel How Books Are Brought to Children Around the World

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By. Mindy Sterling

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By Lisa Campbell Ernst

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That Book Woman (Appalachian Historical story) 

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That Book Woman (Appalachian Historical story) 

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By. Heather Henson

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The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq 

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The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq 

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By Jeanette Winter

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The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq by Jeanette Winter

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By. Pat Mora

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Awards
1997 Américas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature Commended Title
1997 Notable Books for Children, Smithsonian
1998 Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award
1998 Teachers' Choices Award from the International Reading Association
1998 Skipping Stones Multicultural Book Award
1999-2000 Texas Bluebonnet Master List Title
1999-2000 Nebraska Golden Sower Nominee

Teachers & Librarians
Find curriculum activities for
Tomás and the Library Lady.
If you have an activity or activities to share, please email these along with your name and school or library name.

The Family Involvement Storybook Corner at Harvard University has created a tool kit for Tomás and the Library Lady.

Also available in Japanese, published by Hiroyuki Fujiwara.

Print and share this poem about Tomás!
Library Magic
"¡Vámos! Let's go to the library!"
Tomás says to his family.
He shows them his favorite books
and his cozy reading nooks.

"¡Vámos! Let's go to the library!"
Tomás says to his friends. "Hurry!"
They see libros in stacks and rows.
They laugh at funny puppet shows.

"¡Vámos! Let's all go to the library!"
Join the fun, a treasure house that's free.
Bring your friends and family.
Stories, computers, maps and more.
Like Tomás, open books and soar.
Be a reader. Explore galore.

In memory of the leader, educator and author, Tomás Rivera
© 2005 by Pat Mora
This poem appears inBookjoy, Wordjoy.

Tomás and the Library Lady
Knopf Books for Young Readers, illustrated by Raúl Colón
Download a hi-res jpeg of the book jacket.

Tomás y la señora de la biblioteca

Tomás is a son of migrant workers. Every summer he and his family follow the crops north from Texas to Iowa, spending long, arduous days in the fields. At night they gather around to hear Grandfather's wonderful stories. But before long, Tomás knows all the stories by heart. "There are more stories in the library," Papa Grande tells him. The very next day, Tomás meets the library lady and a whole new world opens up for him. Based on the true story of the Mexican-American author and educator Tomás Rivera, a child of migrant workers who went on to become the first minority Chancellor in the University of California system, this inspirational story suggests what libraries--and education--can make possible. Raul Colón's warm, expressive paintings perfectly interweave the harsh realities of Tomás's life, the joyful imaginings he finds in books, and his special relationships with a wise grandfather and a caring librarian.

Highlighted Reviews
"A gentle text and innovative artwork depict a pivotal summer in a boy' ... Spanish words slip in naturally and unobtrusively throughout Mora's text as she focuses on the snug library and the books that fire Tomás' imagination, and on his friendship with the librarian. ... While young readers and future librarians will find this an inspiring tale, the endnote gives it a real kick; the story is based on an actual migrant worker who became chancellor of a university-where the library now bears his name."- Publishers Weekly

"From the immigrant slums of New York to the fields of California, it's an elemental American experience: the uprooted child who finds a home in the library. Mora's story is based on a true incident in the life of the famous writer Tomás Rivera, the son of migrant workers who became an education leader and university president." - Booklist

"One summer in 1940s Iowa, a librarian welcomed a migrant worker child who found the wider world-and his future-in books. This powerful story is based on the boyhood of Tomás Rivera, who would grow to become Chancellor of the University of California, Riverside." - Smithsonian

Watch a video from www.colorincolorado.org where Pat talks about Tomas:

Tomás on Stage

Regarding adaptations of Tomás and the Library Lady, please contact the dramatic permissions department at Curtis Brown, Ltd., 212-473-5400.

Childsplay, Arizona's Professional Theatre for Young Audiences and Families, premiered their production of Tomás in 2006. Since then, the show has embarked on four statewide tours and two national tours. The play will hit the road for a third national tour in the 2018-2019 season.

Watch a video promoting the Seattle Children's Theatre's production of Tomás and the Library Lady.

The November 2008 issue of Library Sparks featured a Tomás Reader's Theater for grades 2-5.

Watch a video about Pat's visit to Perkins Elementary School in Des Moines, Iowa. With the help Des Moines Performing Arts' Applause Series, each class did a different type of performance based on their experience of reading Tomás.

Questions from students about the book:
Did you ever meet Tomás Rivera?
Yes, I did meet Tomás Rivera when I was an administrator at the University of Texas at El Paso. He was very intelligent, hard-working, and he loved to read. He also had a big smile and a wonderful sense of humor. I also went to visit him once when he was the Chancellor of the University of California at Riverside (CA).

What was your purpose in writing this story?
I was sad when Tomás died because I thought he was such a special man and leader. I wanted to honor him, and I decided to write a children's book about him so that children, teachers, librarians and parents would know the story of Dr. Tomás Rivera who was a writer and educator. I also wanted my readers to think about the difficult life migrant workers have and how families and librarians help children succeed. I'm always surprised when even after having read Tomás and the Library Lady students can't tell me what a migrant worker is.

How is your life similar to Tomás' life?
What an interesting question! Tomás and I were both born in Texas. He was born in Crystal City, and I was born in El Paso. We both spoke Spanish at home. (In my house, we spoke both Spanish and English.) We both loved to read and both liked doing well at school. We both went to college and became teachers. We both were parents and became university administrators. We both became writers and wanted our readers to know about the lives and dreams of Mexican Americans. We both felt lucky to be bilingual and wanted all people who are bilingual to be proud of their home languages.
When my first book of poetry for adults was published, I sent Dr. Tomás Rivera a copy. He was a very busy man, but he took the time to read my book, and he wrote me and said, "Don't do what I did. Write." I get teary when I type his kind words. What did he mean? When Dr. Rivera became an administrator, he had to stop writing because he had so many responsibilities. He was telling ms not to continue spending all my time being an administrator.
Tomás has such a big imagination and a love for acquiring knowledge. How can this story motivate children to begin their own quest for knowledge through reading?
I met Tomás' daughter once and asked her what she remembered about her dad. She said, "My dad had books everywhere!" Reading is a pleasant and powerful habit. Powerful? Yes. When we read, we learn to entertain ourselves, to teach ourselves about science, other places and other people. Reading gives us the knowledge and thus the power to be intelligent people who understand their world.

Tomás' family are migrant workers who move from place to place to find seasonal work on farms. How and why did the library become such an important place for Tomás to be when he moved temporarily to Iowa?
Tomás was not that different from people all over the world who discover that libraries are full of treasures. Yes, today there are computers, puppet shows, and movies in libraries, but I want to focus on books. In public and school libraries, we find books with great pictures of space, other countries, and the past. We find books about our hobbies and interests, and books that make us laugh. We also find books at our reading level that let us travel and read wonderful authors. Like many people, Tomás didn't have many books at home. I wrote a poem about Tomás and the library called "Library Magic." I think Tomás found magic in the library. When he could, he created his own library at home. That's fun!

Who was the "Library Lady"?
I did not know who she was when I wrote the story. Years later, I was told that she was a librarian in Hampton, Iowa.

How did your own love for reading and knowledge first start? Were there a special mentor like the "library lady" in your own life?
My mom was a great reader and always had books in the house for the family. She also would drive us to the library. My teachers loved books as did an aunt who lived with us.

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Pat Mora's story is based on a true incident in the life of the famous writer Tomás Rivera, the son of migrant workers who became an education leader and university president. From the immigrant slums of New York to the fields of California, it's an elemental American experience: the uprooted child who finds a home in the library.