The Library

this book is the sweetest! There is nothing like the love of books

This one charmed me. Lovely illustrations. Any book lover will appreciate this story!

The story is fun but the real star is the illustrations --- a gorgeous book. I am going to buy other books by this same team (author Sarah Stewart and illustrator David Small)

When I first saw the cover of "The Library," I had to have this book. My 87-year-old mother, still a voracious reader, tells stories of walking home from school, two miles each way, with a book in front of her face. Her sister and brothers had long left her behind, while she wended her way home, reading in progress. This picture makes me think of my mother and books. What is it in those books to keep one pulled in, pinned in? At any rate, "The Library" is a paean to readers everywhere. Readers read. Elizabeth Brown is our stereotype, our archetype. Each illustration shows another facet of the "stereotypical" reader. Early on, Elizabeth eschews toys for books, she reads uncover at night, she is bored by anything but reading. After completing school, she buys a house and becomes a tutor. Always reading. Finally, she becomes so book-rich, there is no room left in her house. She donates it to the town along with the books for a Free Library. She moves in with a reading friend (who else?) to continue reading. This is a lovely book, yes, but I have a problem with it. I'm a reader, a retired English teacher who pushed reading, a librarian who pushes a variety of books, yet I have a problem with Elizabeth Brown who reads her entire life. Yes, wow, the joy of reading and all it brings, but the joy of life outside a book and all it brings remains closed to Elizabeth Brown. The book saddens me a little, despite its beauty and nostalgia. And, yes, my mother knows how to close a book and enjoy the life outside!

I have this in hardback, but keep giving it away to children I want to love books as much as Elizabeth Brown, the heroine of the story, and I. My copy of this book has to be in hardcover, because I keep pulling it out and loving each word and illustration, and if in paperback, it would have been in shreds. Not only are the hundreds of books Elizabeth collects wonderfully illustrated (wonder if Pepys Diaries are among them?), but how can you not love this character with her ever present wee teddy bear and cats. This book is for children of all ages. I know, because I'm 73 years young! Jo Middleton

Such a cute book! I loved this one as a child when the teacher would read it to us, it hasn't lost any of its charm! Great condition.

If u r a book lover u need this!!

This book is great to share the love of reading of a person.

As a former teacher librarian I was so touched when students gave me this book! It’s all about the love of books!

私には６才の、今年小学１年生になった孫娘がいます。私が娘（その子母親）のために買った世界中の名作絵本がたくさん残してありますが、小さな孫娘はそれらの絵本の数冊を除いて、テレビで見るマンガ、動画の方が熱心に長時間見ています。で、この本を買ってみました。そうしたら、なんと！ 私自身のいまの関心の方にバッチリ合ってしまいました。８２才の私は、エネルギーがあるときは比較的難しい本を、体力のないときは優しく読みやすそうな本を、１日中（眠れないときは夜中も）４、５時間以上も読み続けています。学問的ではなく、単に自分が好きそうな本、興味を引かれた本を選んで読んでいるだけ。 読書だけの人生なんて、だらけた人生かしら？人生の無駄遣いかしら？と最近ちょっと心配になるときがあるのですが、「エリザベスは本の虫」を読んで「あ、わたしのこんな人生でもいいんだ」と安心し、心から楽しくなりました。Sarah Stewart さんとDavid Small さんに感謝しています。

Kitap uzun zamandır almak istediğim bir kitaptı. Kitap sevgisini güzel görsellerle destekleyen hoş bir kitap. Ama kitabım maalesef çaprazlamasına katlanmış bir şekilde geldi. Küçük bir kat izi de değil. Bu biraz üzücü oldu.

it is amazing book , beautifull watercolors, beautifull story!

If you're looking for a book to foster a love of reading in a younger generation, I believe the book takes the cake. However, I would like to note that I am personally biased towards this book as it was one of the first books I had ever read, but one that has been close to my heart since the following years. The protagonist herself is the personification of the passion for literature, as the entirety of her life is defined by this love of books. Beautifully drawn and poetically conveyed, I believe anyone would no choice but to fall in love with reading as I had when I first came across this beautiful book.