STANLEY'S LIBRARY

Stanley, hamster-of-all-trades, is back, this time in a book-loving occupation.

Stanley works in a typical brick-and-mortar library and also on the library’s bookmobile. He spends the morning loading up the van. (Bee’s droll humor is especially evident on the shelves: the “horror” section includes owls and cats—horrific to the rodent set. And of course there is an entire shelf dedicated to cheese.) Stanley drives around the town matching just-right books to readers. Benjamin, Sophie, and Betty are at the park. One borrows a “scary book.” Another borrows a “scary, hairy book.” And the last borrows a “scary, hairy, fairy book.” (Kids always have the trickiest requests—but librarians know just how to please them!) Hattie is working on her motorbike. She didn’t ask for a book, but Stanley found one that he knew she would love and put it aside for her—it’s The Big Book of Twisty Roads. After a busy day of connecting readers with books, the seemingly indefatigable Stanley heads back to the library for a special event. Agatha Mouse has a new book out and is doing a reading! Stanley goes home for his predictable dinner, bath, and bedtime routine—but is reading his book the entire time. Some might suck their teeth at the sight of Stanley in the tub with First Mouse in Space, but so sure and stable are Bee’s compositions that they should know not a drop will get on it.

Delightfully celebrates the art of librarianship.