Author Sarah Stewart
Illustrator David Small

Big Words:
nearsighted            incredible
adrift                          olympiad
manufactured
preferred
promptly
goddesses
attending
volumes
parlor
ripe

This sweet biography tells the story of Elizabeth Brown, who is a role model for all book lovers. Her story is told in flowing rhyme and expressive illustrations, making it a pleasure to read aloud. The simple watercolors are framed by informative line drawings and filled with surprises and supplementary characters, some so subtle you might miss them on your first read. But on subsequent readings, their antics will have everyone laughing and looking more closely.

‘The Library’ serves multiple purposes in a family library: sharing the biography of a real-life philanthropist, celebrating a deep love of books and reading, applauding differences seen as ‘nerdy’ in some circles, inspiring smiles and giggles, recognizing the value in repeated readings, and filling little ears with words to grow broad vocabularies. This is one to own and share regularly.