The Library

by Sarah Stewart, David Small (Illustrator)

Meet an unforgettable bibliophile.

Elizabeth Brown doesn't like to play with dolls and she doesn't like to skate. What she does like to do is read books. And now that she's grown up, her collection has gotten so big all the shelves are collapsing. Her front door has disappeared entirely. What in the world will she do? The reclusive Elizabeth Brown surprises everyone wit her splendid solution.

In charming verse and elegant watercolors Sarah Stewart and David Small celebrate one of America's grandest institutions.

The Library is a 1995 New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year and Outstanding Book of the Year.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Books About Books, Fiction, Poetry, Humor, Juvenile

34 pages, Hardcover

First published April 10, 1995

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Wife of famed illustrator, David Small, Sarah Stewart has written a number of children's books. She grew up in Texas, and lives in Michigan with her husband.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/sarahs...

Reviews

[karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

sorry, balmer, this book is charm city.

everything about this book is wonderful. usually, i am not a fan of books in rhyme, but this one is not cloying at all, and i love love love the illustrations. especially this one:



i am someone with plenty of injuries from multi-tasking.

this is a story about a woman who has "too many" books, but honestly, if you can still vacuum, you do not have too many books. the crazyperson in me looks at all the unused space in that drawing and thinks - "nahhh, you're fine."

of course, there's not that much difference between:



and:



so i might have a little blind spot when it comes to "acceptable ratios of book-to-human in living conditions."

but it is great - i am totally cool with perpetuating the stereotype of bookish women with too many cats and a close female live-in companion, but i am not cool with the teapot/cup-resting-on stack of books drawings. get a coaster, booky!

very sweet book, and probably a nice gift idea if you know any ladies who like to read. but not me, i already have it. you can buy me rubies instead.

come to my blog!

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is me. Although I did take the time to marry and raise an amazing family, I am as nuts as Elizabeth Brown about books. “Attending only to her book, she’d walk into a door.” Yep.

“Books were piled on top of chairs
And spread across the floor.
Her shelves began to fall apart,
As she read more and more.” 😊

Excellent story! Mr. H loves it and says, “Look Gran! That’s you!” 🤣

[Maliha Tabassum Tisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

"She didn't like to play with dolls,
She didn't like to skate.
She learned to read quite early
And at an incredible rate."

"She manufactured library cards
And checked out books to friends,
Then shocked them with her midnight raids
To collect the books again."

"She didn't want potato chips,
She didn't want new clothes.
She went straight to the bookstore.
'May I have one of those?'"

Elizabeth Brown = Me

[disco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yep - this is a book about me. <3

[Manybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a fun and flowingly rhythmic rhyme scheme, Sarah Stewart's engaging and evocative The Library (whose lyrical text is graced with and by her life partner David Small's bright and immensely suitable descriptive and at times almost outrageous accompanying illustrations) tells the story of the ultimate bibliophile and book lover/hoarder (Elizabeth Brown is a person after my own heart and in many ways, a mirror image of me, as I also tend to love books more than anything and often think that my piles of books will one day also crowd me out of my own domicile). The final solution that Elizabeth Brown finds (when it indeed becomes abundantly clear that her house is literally over-run with and by her many books) is both sweet, positive and socially conscious (donating her books and her home to the town as a free public library and moving in with a friend), and for me personally, the only minor quibble I do perhaps have is the simple fact that I would have liked to have known a bit more information about the real Mary Elizabeth Brown in whose memory Sarah Stewart has written The Library (as the book is supposedly based on a real, on a bona fide person, who actually did donate her home and her books to her hometown as a public library). Highly recommended (and especially bookworms young and old will and should find this story massively appealing and sweetly appropriate)!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautifully illustrated by David Small, and written by his wife, Susan Stewart.

There were two things that initially attracted me to this book, the cover and the title.

I actually saw the cover first as a box of cards never knowing that it was created from this book. I bought the cards to use as thank you notes for various friends and speakers over the years who came and participated in our Library Book Discussion group.

And…

Those who would receive a card from me, would always love it, because they thought it was somewhat a caricature of me.

Because they would see the girl with…

The long curly hair, glasses and nose in a book, toting around many more books to give to others.

And…

See me.

I couldn’t help but feel so complimented by that acknowledgment.

Because...

If that was a caricature of me, I was simply in love with the idea that someone thought of me in this way.

And then…

The title.

Well, those of us who love books about books, or libraries or bookstores, how can we not be attracted to a children’s book with such a title?

This is the story of Elizabeth Brown. She loves books. And she devours books. And everything about her life is books. So much so that eventually there is no more room for anything else in her life, because books have taken over everything about Elizabeth Brown’s life.

The best outcome for all those books?

Consider the title of this book.

I won’t say how it all comes about, because that would spoil everything about this story.

But…

I will say, the story, and the illustrations are delightful.

This one is in my personal collection.

And appealing for all ages.

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite possibly the most perfect book ever written about a book lover.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an utterly charming book. The illustrations and story are both wonderful and work so well together. This book is created by a wife (story) and husband (illustrations) team, and I was captivated.

I probably identify too much with the main character (who seems to be based on a real person) and who accumulates way too many books but finds a creative solution to her predicament. Maybe someday…

[Daina Chakma · Rating 5 out of 5]

এই বইটা এত্তো মি-ই-ষ্টি!!

মাত্র ৪০ পাতার বই জুড়ে আছে মিষ্টিমধুর ছড়া আর মনকাড়া ইলাস্ট্রেশন। অক্ষরগুলো ছড়ার মতো করে সাজিয়ে শেষটায় হয়েছে একটা গল্প! গল্পটা Matilda'র মতো ভীষণ পড়ুয়া একটা মেয়ে এলিজাবেথকে নিয়ে, যে কেবল পড়ে, পড়ে আর পড়ে! ফ্ল্যাশলাইটের আলোয় সারারাত জেগে বই পড়ে আর পরদিন ক্লাসে বসে রাফখাতায় ডুডল নামক নানারকম আঁকিবুঁকি করে। অন্য সব পড়ুয়ার মতো এলিজাবেথেরও একটা লাইব্রেরী কার্ড আছে! বন্ধুরা যখন নতুন নতুন ডেট নিয়ে ব্যস্ত ভীষণ তখনও এলিজাবেথকে কোনো একটা বইয়ে নাক ডুবিয়ে থাকতে দেখা যায়!

Elizabeth Brown

Preferred a book

To going on a date.



While friends went out

And danced till dawn,

She stayed up reading late.

এই ভীষণ পড়ুয়া মেয়েটি বড় হয়ে কি হলো?!

জানতে হলে পুরো বইটা পড়তে হবে!!

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, humorous poetic tribute to the love of books! The illustrations are marvelous with lots of charming, amusing touches. Stewart's poem flows smoothly (for the most part) and makes a cohesive, interesting and touching story without succumbing to the "gimmicks" of many tales told through rhyme. I did find that the portrayal of Elizabeth was a bit stereotypical--book-lover who has no interest in dating, like to sip tea surrounded by kitty-cats, ends her days a spinster, etc. However, I did feel it was done lovingly (especially the way The Library is founded!) and I think all book-lovers can see themselves in dear Elizabeth to some extent or another. (Also, it is dedicated to the real-life Elizabeth, so I believe nothing but respect was intended.) Thank you, Chandra, for bringing this to my attention.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course I'm going to love this book. It's about a girl that loves books! And while I may be ever so slightly jealous of her house, it's just a tad excessive even for me. A tad. *wink*

The illustrations are dreamy and delightful, and you'll find Elizabeth Brown charming and perhaps relatable ... or is that just me?

Ages 5+

Cleanliness: picture of a naked baby (nothing visible). The main character prefers a book to going on a date and dancing till dawn like her friends. Mentions Greek goddesses.

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Brown only wants to read books. When she is a child, she doesn't want to play with dolls. She just wants to read. When she is a young adult, she doesn't want to go out on dates. She only wants to read. When she is grown, she buys a house and fills it with books until they are stacked up everywhere. She can't even get out of the front door because stacks of books are blocking the doorway! What will she do with all those books? Share them, of course.

I loved this cute book about a lady with mountains of books in her house. I aspire to be like her when I grow up. The illustrations are adorable, and I liked the rhyming text. Such a fun picture book!

[Akhi Asma · Rating 5 out of 5]

"She didn't want potato chips,
She didn't want new clothes.
She went straight to the bookstore.
"May I have one of *those*?"

[Chadi Raheb · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Elizabeth Brown
Preferred a book
To going on a date.

While friends went out
And danced till dawn,
She stayed up reading late."

It was the sweetest book ever with the loveliest illustrations.
Couldn't help smiling the whole time reading it :)

[Jaksen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars! Absolutely adorable picture book - with some rhymes - that I had to read twice.

I love me some horror, mystery, nonfiction but once in a while I need some children's literature, and what I usually pick out are books with GREAT ART. Love it! The story of a little girl who wants nothing more to do than just read. Read read read. I guess I was kind of that little girl, though my mother would often push me out the door to 'go play with your cousins.' (Or friends, or just toss a frisbee for the dog.) But I always had a stack of books in my room, on the floor, on shelves and a pile to return to the library. I loved the library! Every Christmas I got books for gifts, which extended into my marriage when my husband would buy me books. (He still does.) Sorry if this review's too much about me, but sometimes a reader reads a book which seems very personal to them. This one does to me.

But a great read for that child who loves to read.

Five stars.

[Literary Ames · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cosy, old school hand-painted illustration of a book-cluttered hall in karen's review together with the title The Library enticed me to grab this, appropriately, from my local library. I'm so glad I did!

Yes, I'll grudgingly admit I'm not a child anymore, but I'm well aware of these new soulless block-colour, crisp-lined, computer-generated illustrations which frankly offend my senses, that seeing something lovingly created the old fashioned way warms my heart and fills me with child-like glee. I sound ancient with my When I was young..., I'm really not, though. Unless you think being in your twenties, old.

In simple rhyming rhythm the story is told of every seriously obsessive bibliophile [put your hand up if you are one - *waves*] named Elizabeth Brown. From birth it seems she loved books, and I mean loved them, as in addicted to buying them, storing them in every place she can, and reading every minute she can spare throughout every stage of her life.

The ending, I won't spoil it, in 1995 could be quite different now with the advent and popularity of e-readers, which is a shame. But it reminds me of the pledge made by Lionel Shriver in the adult essay compilation of a similar name, The Library Book.

There are more words in this review than there are in the book. You know what? I enjoyed this so much I. must. buy. it. Don't tell anyone, will you? I all ready have overflowing bookshelves myself, despite the Kindle by my bed.

Perhaps I should make a pledge of my very own. :D

[KatRi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated children's book about book lovers and libraries. The main character was quite stereotypical but then again, the book was written 20 years ago.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming picture book with text in rhyming verse, The Library tells the story of Elizabeth Brown, who loved books - and reading - more than anything else in life. As a child, she preferred books to dolls; as a young woman, she preferred reading to courting; and as an adult, she amassed so many volumes, that her house was overrun...

Apparently based upon the life of a real woman, Sara Stewart's narrative offers an humorous homage to the "gentle madness" of the bibliophile, concluding with a natural (and very satisfying) solution to Elizabeth's out-of-control collection. Book lovers will undoubtedly recognize something of themselves in Elizabeth, with her stacks around her and her nose buried in her latest acquisition. David Small, the genius behind such wonderful picture books as Imogene's Antlers , here contributes a series of droll illustrations that perfectly complement the story. Thank you Chandra, for bringing this one to my attention.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my all-time favorite books. My favorite little independent bookstore when I was in high school was called The Paper Bag Princess, and one time my mom went in without me and the owner called her over. "This book reminds me of your daughter," she said. "You have to get it for her!"

(I had a big poofy perm and glasses at the time.)

My mom did get it for me, and it became my favorite thing in the world. I would read it over and over, until I had it memorized, because this was me! I wanted a house filled with books, and to do nothing all day but read!

It's still my favorite comfort read, and a must for readers everywhere!

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth Brown is the ultimate bookworm. She doesn't play with dolls, dance, or go on dates. Instead she reads, buys books, and reads. Eventually Elizabeth Brown is faced with the dilemma that has stumped many book lovers...what do you do when your house is so full of books that you cannot fit one more?

Stewart shares the story of Elizabeth Brown in verse. Her poetic lines are complimented by softly hued, engaging water-colored illustrations, as well as, smaller black and white pencil drawings closer to the text. The framing of the illustrations also help the reader to see Elizabeth Brown grow/change over time.

Overall, this is a very nice story with lovely illustrations but it is not without fault. Does Elizabeth Brown have to have big hair and glasses? Why must she be socially withdrawn and go without dates? Does she have to be a cat lady? Is it necessary for her to grow old with a companion and not with a partner?

[Scottsdale Public Library]

I love this book! Elizabeth Brown has always spent her days reading books, to the exclusion of any other activity. Over time, her collection has grown so vast that there’s no room for her in her own home. You'll love the solution she comes up with! The illustrations by David Small are delightful.

-Jess O.-

[Gwen Haaland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated children's book tells a true story in rhyme. The story is based on Elizabeth's Brown's life, which revolved around books and reading. SPOILER ALERT: In the stunning ending, we learn that in old age, Elizabeth donated her home and lifetime collection of books to her town to create a town library. Inspiring!

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know I SHOULD be crazy about this book, and I did like it, but it wasn't like superfantastic. I hope the real Elizabeth Brown had more of a life than just reading...I like to read too, but experiencing things firsthand is equally as important. Hmmmm.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sadly unanswered question is "What about the real Mary Elizabeth Brown, to the memory of whom the book is dedicated?" Is this based on a true story?

[Noninuna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how it shows that Elizabeth Brown, in a way or another, is each and every reader out there.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice tribute to Mary Elizabeth Brown. Written in verse, Elizabeth Brown is a reader. A voracious reader and book collector. I enjoyed the story and most of the illustrations, however, I was overwhelmed by one page with an illustration that showed her home covered in piles of books ("When volumes climbed the parlor walls/And blocked the big front door/She had to face the awful fact/She could not have one more.") My grandmother was a hoarder and I found this quite disturbing. I don't know that it was their intention to imply that...but nevertheless, because of my experiences with a hoarder, I was very bothered by this page. You can only imagine my relief when on the next couple of pages she donates all of her books to the town, and a library is opened. Whew! I've read it a few times to see if maybe that was a hasty reaction...but my reaction is just as strong, just as visceral each time...which lessens my enjoyment of the book.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

That a person could start a library was an incredible thought for one of kids. And we spent quite a bit of time studying each picture.

And ... I'm wondering, how many libraries came to be as a result of someone donating a large collection of books to a town.

2024

I'd prefer a different first page -- the baby dropping from the sky doesn't do anything for the story.

We like the little bear.

[ashley elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this aloud to my siblings last night and remembered just how much I adore it. If you love books AT ALL, you should totally read this because it probably describes you perfectly. ; )

[R. L. Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable rhyming book! Loved how this book captured what every bookworm wants in life 😂

[Laura Hartmann]

But I read it in Russian so everybody clap and cheer cause it was very hard and I was very impressive