Perfect Picture Book Friday: THE LOUD LIBRARIAN Plus Giveaway

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Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. I have a special connection with today’s featured book. Some of you might know that my very first real job was working in a library while I was in college. I remember we had those big metal boxes and I had to pack them with books that had been returned to our branch of the Brooklyn Public Library…but they were originally borrowed from a different location and needed to be sent back. For me, it was magical no matter what job they gave me to do because all through my childhood, libraries were like a second home. And so, when I heard about THE LOUD LIBRARIAN, I knew it was a book I’d want to share with all of you.

THE LOUD LIBRARIAN

Written by Jenna Beatrice

Illustrated by Erika Lynne Jones

Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers (April 11, 2023)

Ages: 4-8

Themes: Be yourself, libraries, SEL

Synopsis: From Amazon:
A little librarian with a larger-than-life voice finds her place in this sweet and uproarious picture book about being true to yourself—no shushing required!

Penelope is perfect for the job of student-librarian. Friendly? Check. Helpful? Check. Book lover? Check. There’s just one snag. Penelope is…LOUD. Bookcases may topple and the ground may quake at the sound of her voice, but Penelope is determined to prove she’s perfect for the job and stay true to herself. Can a little librarian with a big voice find a place where she belongs?

Why I Love This Book:
1. It’s about librarians – who are some of my very favorite people!
2. I love SEL stories where kids deal with their emotions and discover who they are and how to move forward in this crazy world!
3. I love the vivid kid-friendly diverse illustrations!

RELATED ACTIVITIES:
Make Your Own Library

Photo courtesy: https://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/make-a-cardboard-mini-library

Kids love big boxes – they can become planes, cars, houses…and even libraries. What a great idea for young children to have a special place to keep books that belong to them – or perhaps a place to keep library books so that when it’s time to return them, we know where they are. Find detailed instructions here: https://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/make-a-cardboard-mini-library

And now that you’ve got a great activity to do with the kiddos after you read the book, let’s find out a little bit about the author and illustrator of this wonderful story! Fortunately, Jenna and Erika stopped by to chat about their paths to publication for this book.

JENNA:
The Loud Librarian’s journey to publication is an example of how it takes a village to raise a book! I applied for a mentorship through #PBChat, founded by Justin Colón, and was incredibly lucky to be picked by the wonderful Lindsay Leslie. Lindsay donated her time to mentor me and to help make The Loud Librarian submission ready. Lindsay taught me so much about storytelling and I’m so grateful to her for believing in this story.

At the mentorship showcase, this story was requested by several editors and an offer was made by Atheneum/Simon & Schuster. It was an absolute dream come true! And would not have been possible without the generosity of the kidlit community.

And here’s a little bit about Jenna:
Jenna Beatrice is a children’s author, lawyer, and mom. She began her legal career as a lawyer for children before becoming a litigator and a trustee of a children’s advocacy center. As an author, Jenna now shares the joy of reading with young children. Jenna lives in northern New Jersey with her husband and their young son. The Loud Librarian (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, April 2023) is her debut picture book. To learn more about Jenna, please visit her at jennabeatrice.com.

General Book Order: 
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Loud-Librarian/Jenna-Beatrice/9781665910545

For Signed Author Copies:
https://www.littlecitybooks.com/book/9781665910545

And now it’s Erika’s turn:
ERIKA:
I signed with my agent in November 2020. I started one freelance project the same week. Just as I finished up in March 2021, the opportunity to do The Loud Librarian came across my desk! I said, “YES!” The timing and the nature of the story was perfect.
But sometimes, when everything seems to be going smoothly, challenges happen.
While illustrating The Loud Librarian my father became ill for several months and passed away. Thankfully I was able to drop everything and spend precious time with him over the winter holiday. I am grateful he got to read a version of the story with my complete sketches during our last Thanksgiving together. He seemed so proud and to finally “get” what I was up to as far as my career was concerned (LOL). I was able to dedicate the book to him and my mom. I know they are both beaming.

And here’s a little bit about Erika:
Erika Lynne Jones is a children’s book author/illustrator and educator. She loves using cut paper collages to tell inclusive stories that affirm children and bring them joy. Erika lives in the Dallas area with her husband and three daughters. The Loud Librarian is her debut picture book, please visit her at erikalynnejones.com.

For Signed Illustrator Copies:
https://www.interabangbooks.com/book/9781665910545

Dear friends, I’m so happy that Jenna and Erika shared some of their journey with us. And they are also offering a giveaway of a copy of THE LOUD LIBRARIAN! Please leave a comment for a chance to win – maybe you can tell us which library you went to when you were a kid. And please remember that the best way to show authors and illustrators that we love their books is to buy them, review them, tell friends about them, and ask our local libraries to purchase copies for their collections. Believe me, librarians will definitely want copies of this book!!!

82 thoughts on “Perfect Picture Book Friday: THE LOUD LIBRARIAN Plus Giveaway”

  2. This books sounds like a perfect one to have in a library and a kid’s hands. I love libraries and librarians. I lived in the country growing up and the bookmobile that came every two weeks was so important to me.

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  3. Thank you for sharing your inspiring journey to creating The Loud Librarian.
    Any book that takes place in a library is a must read!
    I recently wrote a “library book” and look forward to reading your book as a mentor text.

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  8. I love my library! My favorite is one we visited on vacation–it had a great children’s section and a life-size statue of the Tin Man from Wizard of Oz in its beautiful outdoor garden.

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  10. Yay for Jenna and fellow PB member, Erika!! Can’t wait to see this book for REAL!! I don’t remember the library I went to as a kid, but I now spend time at the San Francisco Public Library’s main children’s section. It’s enormous! My son’s university library has an enormous room with a soaring ceiling and floor to ceiling windows that overlook the mountains north of LA. If I were reading there, I think I’d spend more time looking out the window than reading, LOL. Congrats again Jenna and Erika!

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  13. Congratulations Jenna and Erika! Libraries are such wonderful places and I can’t wait to see how Penelope finds her place in her school library. 🙂

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  14. I am probably one of the loudest librarians at my library—and I love that we are a loud, enthusiastic place for book lovers! I can’t wait to read this one.

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  15. What a cute idea for a picture book! I’d love to ask Jenna where the topic came from. Thanks to Jenna and Erika for sharing a little bit about their experience to publication and about themselves personally. Congratulations on your debut book! It’s one I want to read.

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  17. I have so many libraries in my heart and memory- but this book needs to be part of the library at the school I work at right now! DearJeannie Ess is the LOUDEST librarian I have ever known! But it’s precisely because of her stage worthy projection that my students adore her. Congratulations on your debuts! It’s exciting to see Lindsay Leslie’s part in this journey as she and I have shared a few KidLit experiences.

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  18. This book sounds wonderful!!
    Growing up I went to the library in Hendersonville, TN all the time. Now I’m taking my own kids to the library, and it’s so fun to see them experience the magic of picking out and discovering new books!

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  20. Jenna and Erika: I am HEAD-OVER-HEELS IN LOVE with your book! TOO ADORABLE FOR WORDS! WHAT A UNIQUE TWIST on the quiet library scene we all know. I CAN’T WAIT to read this one! My favorite library will FOREVER be the one in my elementary school. There were even MANY recesses spent there instead of on the playground. THAT’S HOW MUCH I LOVED IT, AND STILL DO!

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