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Our Library: A Cheery Illustrated Story About Saving Books and Community for Children
When Miss Goose announces that the library is going to close forever, Raccoon and his friends spring into action. Where will they get the help they need to save their beloved library? In books, of course! This cheery tale from ever-popular author Eve Bunting shows how important libraries are to every community. Bright, playful illustrations enhance the light treatment of this serious subject, in a story that celebrates the value of books in everyone’s lives.
32 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2008
1 person is currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Eve Bunting
309 books407 followersAlso known as Evelyn Bolton and A.E. Bunting.
Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.
In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.
Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.
In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
April 10, 2019
Raccoon and his buddies work hard to save the public library . . . AND, they find all the inspiration for their campaign in books borrowed from the library.
September 5, 2010
2.5 - I don't know what it is about Eve Bunting's books but I either love them or hate them. Julia usually feels just about the same way with each one but for some reason this one fell in the middle for us.
I love the idea and I could tell it made Julia imagine just what if.... what if she had no library to go to? It probably didn't hit home the way it would an older kid, especially since she knows Mommy has what amounts to a small library here in the house and that we'd never go without books no matter what, but it did get her thinking about it and I liked that about the book a lot.
I have no complaints about the illustrations but the writing fell a little flat. I think the story was just too pat also. It takes money to run a library? Oh, check out a book on how to make money fast. All's good. I get the idea - and it's a good one - but I think she took it a little too far. A little less of this sort of thing and a little more about the kids actually thinking and working to get this going would have made it a better book.
I love the idea and I could tell it made Julia imagine just what if.... what if she had no library to go to? It probably didn't hit home the way it would an older kid, especially since she knows Mommy has what amounts to a small library here in the house and that we'd never go without books no matter what, but it did get her thinking about it and I liked that about the book a lot.
I have no complaints about the illustrations but the writing fell a little flat. I think the story was just too pat also. It takes money to run a library? Oh, check out a book on how to make money fast. All's good. I get the idea - and it's a good one - but I think she took it a little too far. A little less of this sort of thing and a little more about the kids actually thinking and working to get this going would have made it a better book.
October 9, 2008
I give this book major credit for the idea--Raccoon and friends help save their local library using information they read in that library's books. A great quote: "There's nothing you can't learn to do when you have books.". I just felt that the story wasn't rhythmic enough for the target age group of the book. Still, it's a nice story and the illustrations are fun.
November 11, 2011
I like a lot of Eve Bunting's books, but this one just didn't work for me. Big preachy topic of saving the library is for older readers, but the (cute) illustrations made me think it was for younger audience when I picked it up. Oversimplification of the topic.
February 13, 2019
With ingenuity and hard work, and with the help of many books, Raccoon and his friends save their local library. This humorous, inspiring picture book with bright, cheery illustrations is sure to win your heart, and to show children that "There's nothing you can't learn to do when you have books."
March 28, 2019
It would be a pleasant 4 if not for the pictures of the town. I want to live in that town. Sheer idyllic town art gets this a 5.
February 2, 2017
Text to Teaching Connection
This book could be used to enhance the functionality of a library and promote reading in general.
Taking a trip to a local library or even the school's library would be a great response activity for this book. More specifically, children can visit a library and read books that are of interest to them, just like the animals did in the story. Also, in the spirit of teamwork, just like the animals, students can pair up and find books on a particular subject they both like.
This book could be used to enhance the functionality of a library and promote reading in general.
Taking a trip to a local library or even the school's library would be a great response activity for this book. More specifically, children can visit a library and read books that are of interest to them, just like the animals did in the story. Also, in the spirit of teamwork, just like the animals, students can pair up and find books on a particular subject they both like.
May 13, 2010
The kids of the meadow solve all of the library's problems by reading books and learning how to do all sorts of things from fixing a roof to handling public relations with a grouchy beaver. The premise: "There's nothing you can't do when you have a good book!" Geared more toward the public librarian, but a great message for school librarians to use as well.
April 2, 2024
This book was really cute and I loved the illustrations. The story was very cute and I liked the persistence the characters showed and how much they fought to save their library. It was good to showcase the level of care the kids had for the library and the empathy they showed for the librarian losing her beloved library.
December 8, 2016
1. "Our Library" by Eve Bunting is about a community that comes together to save their library. When word that their library is closing, friends come together to research how to save a library, host a fundraiser, and ask Beaver for land to transplant their library. Books (and reading them!) literally help this community save their beloved library.
2. Another excellent book by Eve Bunting. This time the community in the story comes together for one great cause, saving their library! This book made me fall in love with my library again! An intriguing story with beautiful illustrations to inspire and engage young minds!
3. I would love to teach a unit on the value of the libraries in our communities. To inspire, engage, and build love for the written word and libraries, I would use nothing else but....books! These books would include, "The Library" by Sarah Stewart and "Library Lion" by Michelle Knudsen.
4. These quotes demonstrate the problem that the characters are facing in the story, but also display how much they love their library. "How will we learn without a library?" Mouse asked. "We'll be ignorant," Skunk said. "And an ignorant skunk is a very sad skunk indeed." "Hmmm," I said. "Remember that it's the library we love-not the land it sits on. Let's find a book." (Bunting, p. 13).
2. Another excellent book by Eve Bunting. This time the community in the story comes together for one great cause, saving their library! This book made me fall in love with my library again! An intriguing story with beautiful illustrations to inspire and engage young minds!
3. I would love to teach a unit on the value of the libraries in our communities. To inspire, engage, and build love for the written word and libraries, I would use nothing else but....books! These books would include, "The Library" by Sarah Stewart and "Library Lion" by Michelle Knudsen.
4. These quotes demonstrate the problem that the characters are facing in the story, but also display how much they love their library. "How will we learn without a library?" Mouse asked. "We'll be ignorant," Skunk said. "And an ignorant skunk is a very sad skunk indeed." "Hmmm," I said. "Remember that it's the library we love-not the land it sits on. Let's find a book." (Bunting, p. 13).
September 2, 2022
What I loved about this book:
- The empowerment of kids - that they can make a difference;
- The literal illustration of how libraries are full of resources - the (animal) kids really used what they had at their fingertips to learn and make a difference (and it also showed that there’s a book for almost anything and for everyone!); and
- Demonstration that representation - library users being able to see themselves in books - matters.
What I didn’t like - slight touch of classism at the mention of “‘There’s nothing you can’t learn to do when you have books,’ [Gopher] says. Porcupine smoothes down her quills. ‘If you can read,’ she adds.”
- The empowerment of kids - that they can make a difference;
- The literal illustration of how libraries are full of resources - the (animal) kids really used what they had at their fingertips to learn and make a difference (and it also showed that there’s a book for almost anything and for everyone!); and
- Demonstration that representation - library users being able to see themselves in books - matters.
What I didn’t like - slight touch of classism at the mention of “‘There’s nothing you can’t learn to do when you have books,’ [Gopher] says. Porcupine smoothes down her quills. ‘If you can read,’ she adds.”
August 28, 2017
I have a habit of reading books and thinking "What can I do with this book with my students?" I think it is obvious I could read this book with my students and point out conflict resolution, discuss community involvement, and reflect on importance of libraries. But, I also want to find books that when I read I think "I enjoyed that book. I want to share it with my students." This book isn't necessarily one of those books that made me want to share because I enjoyed it. I would share this book because I might me able to do something with it to teach my students.
January 28, 2020
I like this book because when there is a problem, you can read a book to solve the problem. The library is the best place to get books from. And I like how they worked together to move the library from one place to another. I like to borrow books from the library to learn new stuff. For example at Christmas time, I couldn't think of any decorations to make. So I went to the library to get a book. The book's name is "How to make Christmas Tree ornaments". If you read books you can get smarter and smarter. I really like books.
February 6, 2021
Animal children save their library by using what they learned from library books.
Art: 4/5 The art is beautifully done.
Story: 2.5/5
Understandability: 4/5
It is a cute story idea, done well enough, but it falls a little flat.
I did enjoy that they added more inclusive books to their library - i thought that was a fun detail to add in.
“There’s nothing you can’t learn to do when you have books … And it’s even better if you have a library.”
Art: 4/5 The art is beautifully done.
Story: 2.5/5
Understandability: 4/5
It is a cute story idea, done well enough, but it falls a little flat.
I did enjoy that they added more inclusive books to their library - i thought that was a fun detail to add in.
“There’s nothing you can’t learn to do when you have books … And it’s even better if you have a library.”
January 21, 2018
This wasn't one of the best books i have read. The idea they wanted to convey was good, but i really didn't enjoy the reading. I feel the book could be more realist towards the younger age group. The picture were great throughout the story, but i did not enjoy this book.
December 5, 2020
I am so impressed that Eve Bunting has written over 200 books and I’ve saddened that I’ve only read a few!
I love the word choice. The illustrations are colorful and crisp. Full of emotion. Shares a passion for reading, learning; how to research and solve problems! I adore this book. ❤️
I love the word choice. The illustrations are colorful and crisp. Full of emotion. Shares a passion for reading, learning; how to research and solve problems! I adore this book. ❤️
August 1, 2022
This book is so cute, and shows the love that these kids have for their library. It hits so close to home since I work in a library. There are some people that aren’t supportive, but the ones that are, are the best! I loved this book, probably more than my kids did!
July 13, 2023
An ode to libraries from 2008. A determined group of animals work together to prevent their neighborhood library from closing. The messages of the importance of libraries, shared reading, and access to resources remains relevant.
August 17, 2017
This was a great book. It encourages children's love of libraries.
August 28, 2017
#cooperation sweet book about the power of reading and working together to relocate a library at risk of shutting down.
February 8, 2018
We very much feel this way about our library. Now my kids are trying to figure out what our library needs. Is the author a librarian? Well played, if so!
June 22, 2018
Loved this!
Great message
Wonderful illustrations
Well written
Love the sophisticated language as well
Kudos
Great message
Wonderful illustrations
Well written
Love the sophisticated language as well
Kudos
August 13, 2018
This was so cute! There is nothing in the world you can't accomplish with the right attitude and the right book (and of course, a library helps)!
August 24, 2018
This was a very cute and fun book about a group of animal friends who decide to start their own/save the local library. This would be a great book for a preschool storytime.
November 26, 2018
Local kiddos do everything they can to save a library that's about to shut its doors.
September 22, 2019
Great illustrations, a great pace, and a great story. I like how it shows the use of a library not just as a place to check out books. It was really cute. I'd definitely share this book with others.
December 7, 2019
An instructive book about establishing community libraries.
February 19, 2020
Great picture book on being faced with a problem and coming up with a solution. It's even better that they do it with books, rather than Google. :)
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March 16, 2020I love this little
library advocate!!!!
So cute.
library advocate!!!!
So cute.
September 11, 2020
It was okay. Not comoletwly what I was expedting. It's a good book that shows how important libraries are and we need to fight for them. Nice illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews