I.Q. Goes to the Library

I. Q.

by Mary Ann Fraser

He’s been Student of the Week, but will I.Q. ever get a library card?

When Mrs. Furber announces that it’s Library Week, I.Q. can’t be more excited. During his first visit, I.Q. makes the amazing discovery that he can borrow books once he gets his own library card. He wants to take out the funny book that Mrs. Binder, the librarian, reads to the class.

Each day that week, I.Q. has a lot of fun learning about all the different materials and types of books at the library. But I.Q. worries that he’ll never be able to find the funny book. And he still needs someone to sign his permission slip for a library card. Will he be able to borrow a book like the other students?

I.Q. is as endearing as ever as he learns the joys and responsibilities of being a card-carrying library user.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, School, Books About Books, School Stories, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only give this book two stars because it didn't go over well with my kindergartners today. I chose to read it to them because I really enjoyed reading I.Q. Goes to School myself and I thought this would be a fun one for the kids. Not so much. It wasn't particularly engaging for them—it doesn't rhyme, and my kids really seem to enjoy the rhyming books more—and it talked about a lot of things that we don't have in our library (magazines, puppets, tapes, etc.), so it wasn't applicable to their library experience.

Now, if you were to sit with your child one on one and read this book, I think they would enjoy it. I like I.Q. as a character and I think his being a mouse really makes this a fun story for them. It just didn't work in my group setting.

**EDIT**
My second graders enjoyed this story much more. Our library seemed a wee bit boring after all the talk of puppets and DVDs in I.Q.'s library, but it was a great way to compare and contrast the different things in the libraries and discuss how every library is different. So I've bumped this up to 3 stars.

[M.K. Aneal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book(:

[معصومه توکلی · Rating 5 out of 5]

عنوان ترجمهٔ فارسی: موش باهوشه به کتابخانه می‌رود

[Maggie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book, it has opened my eyes as to how to behave in a library. Now I know that I should be quiet in a library, but your students may have issues staying focused and on track as they try and pick out a book. The book is discussing a class pet named IQ that wants to go to the library with the class. However, it is not correct to have an animal in the library because animals cannot read. However, this book has given me an enlightenment of rules that should be discussed with your students before and a reminder while walking through the library shelves. When picking out a book and it is too high, ask a librarian or teacher for help. When keeping a book looking new, do not cut it , make marks on it, or draw on it. It also discuss to check in your library book back in the library. The real test will be to have reminders on the wall or continually reminding them how they should act or they will not be able to check out books anymore. This is such an important concept for students because some students at a young age do not know the general rules of the library.

[Stefanie Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

IQ and his class visit the library every day for one week. Great way to introduce students to areas of the library. It includes books on take and creating bookmarks. It's good for beginning to implement library centers or makerspaces. Throughout the book there are reminders posted in the library that give book procedures and expectations. Great talking point as a way to create library rules. IQ also introduces us to different types of books: biography, fiction, non-fiction. The book can also be used to teach Destiny. It's cute and great for teaching K-2 students about library information.

[Angie Fehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

IQ is a very sweet classroom mouse who just wants to be one of the kids, even during Library Week! IQ listens to stories in the library, learns how to search for books on the computer and even manages to get a library card for himself!

IQ's story instills a love of books in young readers while also teaching them the importance of treating books with respect. Throughout the book's illustrations are little "Mrs. Binder's Reminders" notes, subtly teaching readers rules of the library such as not marking up books, using bookmarks and being quiet and respectful of other library patrons.

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 2 out of 5]

A classroom mouse named IQ (obviously a lab mouse, the type experimented on for intellectual stimuli) gets to hang out with kids at the local public library, and the little rodent is all excited about the types of materials one can check out with a mere card. I sense that this is more of a PSA for libraries and not a genuine story, and it gets worse when the lab mouse uses a computer mouse as part of a failed attempt at humor. Nah, I'd shelve this one and leave it to one more deserving than I.
Two stars
IQ is so low!!!!

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book embodies libraries and what libraries may be used for, it is outdated. If only there was an updated version of this book, which did not have cassette tapes in use... I would use it frequently to introduce different aspects of fun and learning at the library. (Wishful thinking! *hint hint*)

[Kylie Combs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could be a good book to use to introduce a new class to the library. This library had a few more options than ours, but the public library could make up for this small deficit.

In Parks collection

Activities-
-replicate some of the activities the class was able to do
-Use each day as a scavenger hunt in the library when doing introductions

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

I.Q., the class pet, spends the week with his class in the library. I.Q., and his class learn something different each day about the library. I.Q. wants to get a library card, so he can borrow the book that was read to the class on their first of the visit.

[Mrs Heet -Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to introduce all the things that you can find in a library. True some of the activities are outdated, or not included at your library, that can open the discussion about the differences between the library in the book and your library that you use.

[Aneesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much more of a hit than actually going to the library.

[Kaylynn Johnsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

School mouse learns about the library. Uses the days of the week.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book for learning to appreciate the library. Heavy handed and teach-y, but that is sometimes necessary and fine. This is a book all school/children’s librarians can use for the little ones.

[wildct2003 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about the school library

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture Book

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Booklist August 2003 (Vol. 99, No. 22)
K-Gr. 2. A story that might have been didactic is enlivened by cheerful illustrations featuring I. Q. the mouse, presumably a classroom pet. I. Q. is no ordinary rodent; he enjoys story hour along with the human students, and uses the library to get books, just as the kids do. Comedic elements, such as the titles of the books that the diminutive rodent climbs on, add fun for older children who are careful readers, and hints for kids who use the library ("Don't get a book by yourself if it's too high on the shelf") appear throughout the book on signs posted by Mrs. Binder, the aptly named librarian. I. Q. participates in all the Library Week activities, until it's time to get a library card. Who will sign as his "Parent/Guardian?"Happily, someone does. A sure bet during National Library Week, but fun anytime.

Horn Book Guide Spring 2004
I.Q., the class pet rat, enjoys Library Week at school as he learns how to locate books using the computer, makes a bookmark, and listens to a book on tape. While the text tends towards the didactic ("When he was done with a book he was careful to put it back exactly where he found it"), I.Q. is an engaging character and the illustrations are bright. This is a cheerful lesson in how to use the library.

Kirkus Reviews July 1, 2003
Opening and closing with a handful of precious but on-target ground rules-"To keep the books looking new, never mark, draw, cut, or glue"-this barely disguised tutorial follows a mouse and his human classmates through a week's worth of visits to their school library. I.Q. wants the storybook Mrs. Binder, the librarian, reads on Monday, and on each successive day he gets closer to finding it-meanwhile discovering the fiction, nonfiction, and nonprint sections, making a bookmark, using the online catalogue, and at last getting his own library card. Though tiny, I.Q. attracts no more attention than a child would as he scurries about Fraser's bright, inviting, sometimes realistically disheveled media center. Like Gail Gibbons's Check It Out! (1985) or Marc Brown's D.W.'s Library Card (2001), this artfully conveys both the basics of how most libraries are organized, and a sense of why they're the place to be. (Picture book. 5-7)

Publishers Weekly September 8, 2003
I.Q. Goes to the Library by Mary Ann Fraser follows the classroom mouse first introduced in I.Q. Goes to School. Here, he is tickled when the school librarian reads a funny book to his class. He returns to the library every day in search of the book she read (meanwhile he learns about the different types of books available there). What he really wants is his own library card so he can check out the funny book for himself. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal November 1, 2003
PreS-Gr 3-Ever since his first adventure in I.Q. Goes to School (Walker, 2002), the little mouse has had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. He loves learning new things with the students in the elementary school classroom that is his home. In his latest outing, he joins the class as they visit their library during Library Week and learns all about its many resources. Fraser's simple story provides a satisfactory overview of the materials and services available in a contemporary school media center. The book's clean layout and design feature nicely understated but loving details such as thematically consistent endpapers and visual storytelling that begins on the title page. Like I.Q., this winning picture book should find a comfortable home in any school or library setting.-Catherine Threadgill, Charleston County Public Library, SC Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute storybook about a classroom 'mouse' that is actually part of the children. He and they get to have library week. They go to the library every day beginning the reading with 'monday' "On Monday they..." Then talk about what the librarian taught them that day. Then the next "Tuesday" "On Tuesday they did..." So teaches Children the days of the week and it goes through even the weekend.

A little mouse enjoyed the book that the librarian read to them the first day and he was so happy to learn that he could get a library card and check the book out! So he uses the whole week learning how to find that book and how fun the library can be. He looks forward to what all nice things he gets to do.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The class pet, a little mouse named I.Q., wants to go with the children during Library Week, when they go to the library every day for a different activity. Along the way he learns about all sorts of books and audiovisual items that he can check out, and the library rules, and how to look up books on the computer. This book is a nice way to introduce children to the books and services that the library provides. However, I hope that "Library Week" isn't the only time during the school year that the children get to go to the library! I hope this special week is at the beginning of the school year to introduce them to the library!

[Kaitlin McDonough · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book can be used as a read aloud book to students in younger classrooms who may have never been to a library before. This book will inform students of acceptable behavior in the library. This book could also be read aloud for the first couple weeks of kindergarten every time the students go to the library to remind them of how to act in the library.

I loved this book. It was very informative yet still fun because the book is told from I.Q.'s perspective who happens to be a mouse. I think kindergarten and first grade students would love this book because going to the library is something new and exciting for them so they will also be excited to read or listen to this book.

[Hannah Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personal reaction: I thought this book was very cute because of how small I.Q. was and how he was treated like a normal person throughout the book, even though he was a mouse.

Purpose: This book would be a great book to read aloud to children in Kindergarten because it prepares them for what their first library experience will be like. It talks about how they look at all the different genre of books as well as how they use the computer to search for a specific book they want. These scenarios would help children feel more comfortable when they go to the library for the first time.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I.Q. (a mouse) gets to go to the library to choose a book for the first time. He learns all about the wonders of the library (puppets! computers!) and learns how books are organized, and how to take care of them. But what he really cares about is finding the funny book the librarian read so he can take it home. We're all cheering when he finally gets the book he wants and gets to take it home and read "until his eyes water and his tail curls."

[Ina · Rating 5 out of 5]

IQ is an endearing mouse who is determined to be more than just the class pet. When Mrs. Furber announces that it is library week for the class, IQ is not going to be left behind. The class and IQ have a week long adventure exploring the library and discovering all that it has to offer. The illustrations are sweet and the reader will fall in love with IQ - while learning more about the library.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book; it not only teaches about the different resources available at the library, but it also gets children excited to go to the library and to read. It's a great book to read aloud...especially at the library!

[Lesley Looper · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book about a mouse who enjoys library week with his elementary school classmates is pretty cute, but it's not my favorite library-related children's book. Still, its worth the read. I like the mouse's determination to get a library card.

[Ronda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been sharing this book with my students during library orientation. Since our library has some differences with I.Q.'s, I editorialize some to compare and contrast. It also is nice for reviewing the day sof the week. Later in the year, the kids enjoy getting to revisit I.Q. in the sequel.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary:
This week Mrs. Furber's class gets to go to the library, and the class pet mouse I.Q. goes along. He learns all the neat things the library offers and can't wait for Friday to check out a book.

[Andria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was helpful for a rules review for my primary kids, although I did rewrite a bit of it so that it matched with our library rules. Also, library week does not make sense. You would not have a class come to the library every day during a week because scheduling that just would not work.

[Meg · Rating 2 out of 5]

The library I'm interning at chose this for the first kindergarten storytime. I don't find the book very engaging, so I don't think five year olds do either! Here's to the 6 times I've read it and the 4 more times I have to do it!

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly, my least favorite in the series so far. IQ teaches kids about what can be found in the library in his own entertaining way. This one just didn't seem as cutsy as the other and/or I didn't connect with it as much.