Picture Books That Celebrate the Library (and Librarians)

Luna Loves Library Day by Joseph Coelho, illustrated by Fiona Lumbers
On library day, her mom drops her off to meet her dad at the library. She and her dad look at books and read books and play. Luna loves library day! There’s a sweetness in Luna’s family situation as well as a playfulness around books that make this a jewel of a book that shows a mixed-race family. Love, love, love.

Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw
We love this library book about a little girl and her mom’s library ritual. It’s simple and yet, absolutely wonderful. (I’m partial to the coffee at the library!)

Nia and the New Free Library by Ian Lendler, illustrated by Mark Pett
When the library is destroyed, a book-loving girl makes her own Free Library by writing her own books and sharing them with the townspeople. She gets the town excited to read and write, too. Soon, they want a safe place to store all the books. So, book by book, the town rebuilds the library beginning with walls, then lions, and continuing with librarians. I LOVE THIS BOOK!

Lyric McKerrigan, Secret Librarian by Jacob Sager Weinstein, illustrated by Vera Brosgol
Because librarians can save the day… Doctor Glockenspiel is threatening to have his giant moth army eat ALL the world’s books. It’s up to Lyric McKerrigan (secret librarian) to stop him. She sneaks into his hideout, disguised as a plumber, uses books to distract the guards, rescues the captured ninjas, and subdues the moths with …a story!

Ronan the Librarian by Tara Luebbe and Becky Cattie, illustrated by Victoria Maderna
Barbarians like the mighty Ronan and his people don’t read books. They invade, raid, and trade. Until Ronan notices the pictures in books and starts reading. But how can Ronan get the other barbarians to read? He reads aloud to them…and it hooks them on books! Soon, Ronan becomes the community’s librarian, sharing and recommending books with his fellow barbarians. Playful, funny, and perfect for reading aloud with the best literacy message: READING is for everyone, and everyone can love books…even barbarians. 

The Library by Sarah Stewart, illustrated by David Small
Elizabeth loves books. Books, books, books! Soon her book collection has outgrown her house. She solves this by making her home a library — and moving into a friend’s house.

Busy People Librarian by Lucy M. George, illustrated by Ando Twin
It’s time for storytime. Rita, the librarian, helps everyone feel welcome and interested — today’s a birthday celebration for the library. First, they read several books about parties and then the kids share a birthday cake. Then Rita helps Evan find a book about rocket ships and space. Learn about what a librarian does as well as other busy people that librarians work with such as authors, teachers, and parents.

Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Eric Velasquez
During the Harlem Renaissance, Arturo Schomburg collected books about Africa. So many books that he eventually donates his collection to the New York Public Library. His collection is now known as the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown, illustrated by John Parra
Some libraries, like in Ana’s village, travel to you on a four-legged animal. Ana’s library travels on two burros and brings her all the books she can read.

That Book Woman by Heather Henson, illustrated by David Small
The Book Woman keeps bringing books to where Cal and his family live in the Appalachian Mountains. After watching his sister read, Cal’s reluctance turns to interest and he asks her to teach him to read.

Tomas and the Library Lady by Pat Mora, illustrated by Raul Colon
Based on the true story of Tomás Rivera, the son of migrant workers. During the summer, a librarian helps him discover the wonder of books and stories.

Madeline Finn and the Library Dog by Lisa Papp
What a sweet story of love and success learning to read! (Okay, I admit to shedding a tear or two. Because dogs. And books. . .) Madeline really wants to be a better reader, but reading just doesn’t click –until she meets a beautiful white dog named Bonnie who helps Madeline build her confidence in reading.

Do Not Bring Your Dragon to the Library by Julie Gassman, illustrated by Andy Elkerton
Dragons are rude, they set things on fire, they break things, all in all, there are a lot of reasons why you shouldn’t bring your dragon to the library. So, why not borrow books for your dragon to enjoy at home? Excellent rules for dragon owners!

Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
What rules should a lion follow when he visits the library? Not to worry, this lion knows exactly how to behave; he’s quiet and well-behaved. (Except when the beloved librarian is in distress.)

The Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk
Sam is a mouse who lives at the library. He decides to write his own story. When a little girl and the librarian find it, they invite him to Meet the Author Day.

A Book for Benny by Judith Koppens, illustrated by Marja Meijer
Sam wants to keep reading, but her dog, Benny, wants to play. That’s why Sam decides to take Benny to the library and get a book just for him. It takes a few tries. Eventually, she finds the perfect book for Benny– a cookbook on sausages.

A Library Book for Bear by Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton
Mouse convinces his grumpy friend, Bear, to go to the library so he’ll find the right book. Bear gets more and more cranky as Mouse shows him different books. But will Bear change his tune when he hears the librarian?

The Midnight Library by Kazuno Kohara
Captivating illustrations in yellow and blue tones show a little librarian and her three assistant owls who help their patrons find books.

The Library of Ever by Zeno Alexander
Lenora steps into a section of the library that suddenly appears under an arch that reads, “Knowledge is a light.” There, she takes a job as a librarian which begins her marvelous and bizarre time travel adventure …at the Calendar help desk on the world’s largest globe conversing with robots and whales and penguins and ants, shrinking and growing, and ultimately fighting bad guys in bowler hats who want censorship, ignorance, and fear.

Like Magic by Elaine Vickers, illustrated by Sara Not
Three 10-year old girls, each who is struggling and lonely, find comfort and eventual friendship all because of a wonderful librarian and a treasure box she lets them check out and fill. This is a beautiful story of friendship and a tribute to all the amazing librarians who know and care about all of us who visit the library.