ABUELA'S LIBRARY

When a beloved neighborhood tree is cut down, a child decides to create a little library in its place.

Alfonso and Abuela, a former school librarian, love to curl up beneath an old oak tree and read. “She says books hold the world together and you can never have too many,” Alfonso tells us. But the tree is sick and in danger of knocking over a power line. It must come down. After it’s been cut down, Alfonso realizes that the remaining stump can be turned into a minilibrary; they’ll call it Abuela’s Library. Alfonso’s friends are skeptical, but with help from Papi, Mami, Abuelo, Abuela, and others, Alfonso’s dream becomes a reality. The resulting structure has windows, a painted door, and even fairy lights. While it’s smaller than a public library, it’s larger than most little free libraries; children are able to step inside. People gather and ask Alfonso for recommendations, and the little one happily obliges. “This is how my love for matching people with the perfect book begins,” Alfonso explains. “It’s how I know I will be a librarian one day too.” Norman’s upbeat tale shows how a sad event can be turned into a community project and a source of happiness. It’s a love letter to trees, to reading, and to the librarians who inspire others to learn and grow. Gómez’s round-eyed, round-headed characters are endearing. Alfonso’s family is cued Latine; the community is diverse.

A tender tribute to libraries and librarians.