Our Librarian Won't Tell Us Anything

by Toni Buzzeo, Sachiko Yoshikawa (Illustrator)

According to Carmen, a fourth-grader, her school's librarian won't tell students anything Fortunately, her classmate Robert doesn't believe Carmen. When he asks Mrs. Skorupski question after question, she leads Robert to the tools he needs to find the answers, and he becomes a Library Success Story. The book's engaging text and fun illustrations will have your students clamoring to become Library Success Stories, too.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, School, Realistic Fiction, Juvenile, Books About Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toni Buzzeo is a library guru and I'm not surprised that she's turned her talents to writing a book about libraries for children. Robert is a new fourth grader at Liberty Elementary School and when he visits the library, he finds a dynamic and exciting program. The only problem is that Mrs. Skorupski, who wears dangly tarantula earrings, won't tell the students anything. And it's true that Mrs. Skorupski won't TELL you anything but she'll certainly SHOW you how to do anything.

There are some clear pros and cons to this book. Pro: Liberty Elementary's library is an amazing place. Students, teachers, and the librarian are working on rich, meaningful projects. The book walks through how to use the library and how to complete a research project. Cons: This book is going to look dated very quickly. Any book that includes pictures of computers and multimedia materials is going to look out-of-date in less than ten years. I hope that Buzzeo and Yoshikawa are thinking ahead to an updated version in a few years. Another big con in my mind is that she talks about using the BIG BLUE E (internet explorer). Ugh. As a devoted Firefox user, I take glee in the fact that IE is being recognized as an obsolute brower and I wish that the Buzzeo had skipped over such a specific research detail.

Recommended for students in grades 3 - 5, especially those beginning their first research projects.

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice library picture book featuring every school librarian's favorite fantasy librarian helping kids learn how to use a card catalog and to find the answers themselves. I don't think I'd use this in my teaching, but my day would be made if a child chose to read this.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

School Library Journal (February 1, 2007)

Gr 2-5-Liberty Elementary School has a state-of-the-art library media center with a librarian who, allegedly, won't tell the students anything. At least that's the grim report that new student Robert receives from his classmate Carmen. When he meets Mrs. Skorupski-who wears tarantula earrings, rhinestone glasses, a bright red-and-gold shirt, and purple pants-he discovers that she is not quite as close-lipped as he'd been led to believe. While it's true that she won't place a book directly in his hand or find him a Web site, she patiently teaches him how to search an online catalog and how to access and select appropriate information by himself. In other words, she's a perfect school librarian. Mrs. Skorupski enables Robert and his classmates to locate print and nonprint materials, take notes, keep track of sources, and demonstrate their learning in a multimedia product. This amusing story with bright, zippy illustrations can be used to launch research units. The accompanying "library lessons" pamphlet has useful forms, a self-assessment rubric, and additional information on multimedia formats including claymation films, podcasts, TV advertisements, and PowerPoint slide shows.-Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a realistic fiction story about a school Librarian who doesn't just give students answers, but rather she teaches them to use the library and its resources so students can independently answer their own questions.
The librarian is a character. She wears tarantula earrings and uses funny expressions like "oily doily". Will kids find her funny and enjoy the story or will they just think the book is a "gimmick"? I am betting that lots of librarians will love Mrs. Skorupski but I think she will turn off many fourth and fifth graders, especially boys. Tread carefully.

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Age of readership: Grades 2-5
Genre: Picture Book
Diversity: Being independent
Description of the illustrations: Bright, colorful drawings
Personal response to the book: A funny story a a school librarian will not give you a book but rather teach you how to find on your own.
Curricular and programming connections: A good book for a school librarian to discuss with a class in a school library the various resources and how to use them.

[Benjamin Kelien · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was really helpful because the student was never actually shown how to do the things she asked. She was scaffolded by the librarian to help her research the things she's trying to find. While one student says that the librarian won't help them, the girl sees what the librarian is trying to do and teaches others how to find stuff at the end of the story. I would recommend this for 4th graders.

[Nathan Willard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I initially got this book out of a sense of obligation to my librarian friends. But my interest in the book, perhaps along with something else in the story, made my 3.5 year-old want to read it every night. It isn't much of a story--more an illustration of how librarians can give people the tools to answer questions rather than answering questions themselves (unless the tools are insufficient for, say, 10 year-olds).

[Kixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The school librarian teaches children to use the tools they need to succeed, instead of supplying them with an answer. Some of his classmates don't understand, but Robert is helped by Mrs. Skorupski to become a Library Success Story.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a brand new school librarian I couldn't resist reading this. I liked the overall story and the fact that Mrs. Skorupski modeled skills to her students instead of just handing over information. I think kids would get a bit antsy if this was a read-aloud because there is so much text.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another picture book in the Mrs. Skorupski series about using the library and its resources. The librarian, Mrs. Skorupski, shows her students how to evaluate websites for internet research. This is a helpful resource for introducing media literacy.

[Heather Manning]

This book would make a great addition to the training manual for any school or public librarian, and also any AnyQuestions operator.! Information literacy rulz!!

[Zonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A library success story about helping children who can help themselves in the library.

[Leah Lemon]

This book is great. It tries to teach the value of having someone teach you how to do something versus them just telling you what to do. Its very cute.

[Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to teach why it is important to be information literate and independent... and when you should contact your librarian for help.

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the title and the concept, but overall found the text a bit wordy and dogmatic.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun way to set the tone for the school year. I will be using this for 3rd graders - and maybe 4th or 2nd. I'll use it to introduce our new circulation system.

[Weisser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great teaching book that is also fun to read to students. Teach students how to find what they need in the library.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes the point that the students are supposed to do the research, the librarian is there to help them with research skills and pointers.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! What a great way to show how librarians DO tell you things, yet learn how to search for information and resources on your own. :)

[Janis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great lesson in teaching/learning how to help yourself and how working together is a wonderful thing.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book about a new student's experience with Mrs. Skorupski and the library. She won't tell him anything, but it's amazing what he learns!

[Lisa M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cute library book.

Merged review:

Another cute library book.

[Dana Pressnell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too "teachy" for my taste

[Sherri Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME TEACHING TOOL FOR THE SCHOOL LIBRARIAN~~ :)

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. Just ended our 1st grade research project with it and they loved that they knew their librarian teaches them how to find things, not tell them where things are. :)

[Nancy Sievert]

Super cute to read to 4th grade at the beginning of school!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, the clever librarian who makes the students figure out things for themselves! Serious humor with colorful illustrations.

[Denée · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! As an elementary school librarian, I loved the fun and quirkiness of Mrs. Skorupski and how she "didn't" help the students. Fun.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book about the role of a school librarian through the eyes of a child/student.

[Kary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to introduce young students to what services the school librarian offers.