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Dear Reader: A Love Letter to Libraries
This book is a tribute to the power of libraries and books and about the importance of representation in stories!
There was just this one thing, this nagging suspicion, that I didn't meet the criteria for a heroine's condition.
In the books that I read, an absence of melanin was a clear omission.
A voracious young reader loves nothing more than going to the library and poring through books all day, making friends with characters and going off on exciting adventures with them. However, the more she reads, the more she notices that most of the books don't have characters that look like her, and the only ones that do tell about the most painful parts of their history. Where are the heroines with Afros exploring other planets and the superheroes with locs saving the day?
There was just this one thing, this nagging suspicion, that I didn't meet the criteria for a heroine's condition.
In the books that I read, an absence of melanin was a clear omission.
A voracious young reader loves nothing more than going to the library and poring through books all day, making friends with characters and going off on exciting adventures with them. However, the more she reads, the more she notices that most of the books don't have characters that look like her, and the only ones that do tell about the most painful parts of their history. Where are the heroines with Afros exploring other planets and the superheroes with locs saving the day?
32 pages, Hardcover
First published February 28, 2022
146 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
February 13, 2022
I received this book for review; however, all thoughts are my own
This is probably going to be one of my favorite picture book releases of the year. It centers around a young girl who loves reading books at the library but finds that most of the books with characters that look like her center on painful parts of history. It is the exact conversation that so many people are beginning to have in reference to publishing. The balancing of Black joy and pain is something that many feel has been lacking in publishing with stories that focus on Black trauma taking the lead. I, myself, have fallen prey to prioritizing these stories without making sure that I'm also highlighting those books that show Black joy. Seeing this conversation happen within the context of a picture book was a wake up call, but also extremely rewarding. I'm more than excited by the fact that this message is being so readily conveyed in books for youth. The illustrations were magnificent and worked so well with the text. If you haven't thought about it, I would highly recommend picking up this book.
This is probably going to be one of my favorite picture book releases of the year. It centers around a young girl who loves reading books at the library but finds that most of the books with characters that look like her center on painful parts of history. It is the exact conversation that so many people are beginning to have in reference to publishing. The balancing of Black joy and pain is something that many feel has been lacking in publishing with stories that focus on Black trauma taking the lead. I, myself, have fallen prey to prioritizing these stories without making sure that I'm also highlighting those books that show Black joy. Seeing this conversation happen within the context of a picture book was a wake up call, but also extremely rewarding. I'm more than excited by the fact that this message is being so readily conveyed in books for youth. The illustrations were magnificent and worked so well with the text. If you haven't thought about it, I would highly recommend picking up this book.
March 9, 2022
Tiffany Rose shares her childhood frustration at loving to read, read, read, at working her way through the library, eating up the stories but never seeing a kid like her in any of the many, many fiction books she checked out. When she did go looking for stories about black people, the stories were always sad, traumatic, reflecting history and never looking to possible futures.
So she did what Toni Morrison told her to do: She started writing the stories she wanted to read.
The illustrations are fun, exuberant, colorful - perfectly summing up what it's like to be immersed in imaginary worlds over and over again.
So she did what Toni Morrison told her to do: She started writing the stories she wanted to read.
The illustrations are fun, exuberant, colorful - perfectly summing up what it's like to be immersed in imaginary worlds over and over again.
April 5, 2022
The subtitle is very deceptive. This isn't a love letter to libraries, but is a testimonial about the author's childhood love for books and frustration about not seeing herself represented in the books she read. The author's passion for the subject comes through clearly, but the rhyme scheme is clunky, and the book doesn't acknowledge the tremendous strides that authors of color have made in the publishing industry over recent decades. There's more work to be done, of course, but the book makes it sound like nothing has changed, and a reader of any race who isn't up-to-date on the vast array of diverse titles released recently could walk away with the wrong impression.
February 26, 2024
It's ironic that the title of this book was "A Love Letter to Libraries" when the author only went on to write what she personally viewed as wrong with libraries until she came along to fix it... I'll say sure, libraries and published works have come a long way in recent years, and have certainly changed since Rose was a little girl seeing only white people in stories. But to self proclaim that the only reason libraries are diverse now is because of you is a stretch (especially when I've never even heard of you until now). Idk. I thought this would be a cute story about how wonderful libraries are, instead it was a reflection on their flaws. It's an honest review and one that has certainly helped change how libraries look. But the title doesn't match the story inside, and I was left feeling disappointed in this story.
April 22, 2022
Beautiful story, fantastic illustrations.
Thank you for writing this book.
Love that Tiffany Rose also promoted left-handed writing!
Thank you for writing this book.
Love that Tiffany Rose also promoted left-handed writing!
February 24, 2022
As a librarian myself, this story came across to me as saying that their is no representation in the books that we choose to put on the shelves and I disagree.
December 10, 2022
Here me out about this book.
I get the author's message. I get the author's intent. It's about a girl who loves going to the library and exploring books. (And a thumbs up for the library card end papers at the front of the book! And proving that picture books have some of the most advanced vocabulary within their pages!) Then, realizing that a lot of the Black narratives are ones of struggle and triumph over adversity (Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr) and not stories of adventures and superheroes, she seeks to create those narratives. It's a valid argument: up until recently, the only Black representation was more in nonfiction and about events along the Civil Rights moment. A black girl was not the protagonist in a story about food. (Or if it was it was about slavery and food)
Here's my problem, though. The byline of the book is "a love letter to libraries." To be honest, I did not get that vibe while reading "Dear Reader." If anything, I felt it was attacking the lack of Black girls in books. And that the library was a little responsible for perpetuating the cycle. I think that is misguided. Please visit my library and see that, now, we always have books on display that feature BIPOC characters. Characters doing seemingly everyday activities.
So, I guess don't call it a love letter. It was more of an OP/ED piece.
I get the author's message. I get the author's intent. It's about a girl who loves going to the library and exploring books. (And a thumbs up for the library card end papers at the front of the book! And proving that picture books have some of the most advanced vocabulary within their pages!) Then, realizing that a lot of the Black narratives are ones of struggle and triumph over adversity (Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr) and not stories of adventures and superheroes, she seeks to create those narratives. It's a valid argument: up until recently, the only Black representation was more in nonfiction and about events along the Civil Rights moment. A black girl was not the protagonist in a story about food. (Or if it was it was about slavery and food)
Here's my problem, though. The byline of the book is "a love letter to libraries." To be honest, I did not get that vibe while reading "Dear Reader." If anything, I felt it was attacking the lack of Black girls in books. And that the library was a little responsible for perpetuating the cycle. I think that is misguided. Please visit my library and see that, now, we always have books on display that feature BIPOC characters. Characters doing seemingly everyday activities.
So, I guess don't call it a love letter. It was more of an OP/ED piece.
January 21, 2024
Once upon a time, there was a little girl who loved reading. She read and read and read, but she was sad to discover that there weren't any books about kids like her. Even when she did find characters of color, those folks tended to inhabit sad stories. Something had to be done, and this little girl might just be the one to do it.
I almost quit this book before the halfway point. It's written in something resembling poetic structure, but it's janky and random. Why the weird word choices if you weren't going for a specific rhythm or rhyme? This book does make a good point, particularly about how Black folks are represented in books. Kids deserve characters who are just like them: perhaps they face different struggles than white kids, but their stories aren't only about suffering. The ending was sweet, and the illustrations were engaging. I didn't love the beginning is all.
I almost quit this book before the halfway point. It's written in something resembling poetic structure, but it's janky and random. Why the weird word choices if you weren't going for a specific rhythm or rhyme? This book does make a good point, particularly about how Black folks are represented in books. Kids deserve characters who are just like them: perhaps they face different struggles than white kids, but their stories aren't only about suffering. The ending was sweet, and the illustrations were engaging. I didn't love the beginning is all.
September 26, 2025
A young black girl loves going to the library and spending hours reading books. She enjoys adventure books and loves the friends and places they take her to. However, she realizes that no character looks like her in the many books she has read. She wishes for more heroines with gorgeous afro or a mermaid with luscious locks. The only books she sees with characters like her are about pain and suffering. This book is intended for pre-k through 1st grade. Some themes in the book are diversity in literature and creativity. I liked that this book showed how fun reading can be and the adventures it can take you on. It also teaches children that "if the path you want doesn't exist, create it." (Rose, 2022) When you see something you don't like or agree with, you can make a change and take action on what you want to see done. I would use this book to encourage creative writing I would read the book and then have school's students come up with an original superhero.
March 31, 2023
Lovely message-my kids, despite being white, related and started talking about representation in their books after reading this.
January 31, 2024
Short picture book with deep message. I hope we get more diverse in books and everything 💙
December 21, 2023
Good message, nice personal memoir of childhood from the author. Misleading title, unless it is supposed to be ironic. I would have liked some type of aspirational bookend to the narrivative that depicted a future with a diverse library of stories for all people, a goal which is actively being persued by many comtemporary libraries. Would have been nice if the narrative journey ended with the library being presented in a positive light, not just one that outcasts people of color by way of its collections. The message that "if the path you want doesn't exist, create it" is a good one, but I don't think this Love Letter to Libraries shows much love for the libraries themselves or their efforts toward inclusion. Should it not be A Love Letter to Publishing Houses?
January 13, 2026
Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
February 17, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up for the illustrations. I am a recently retired children’s librarian who worked on including diversity in my storytimes before “diversity” was a “thing”. In the earlier years of my career, it was called using “multicultural” children’s literature. I have used many, many children’s books with people of color in them as the main character. It started in the 1960’s with THE SNOWY DAY written by Ezra Jack Keats (who was white), and more and more have been added over the years. In the 1980’s, 1990’s and early 2000’s, there were many added titles with beautifully illustrated books with people of color as the main character, and they were not slaves or oppressed or in pain —they didn’t even need to point out the color of their skin in the stories—they were just part of the story without having to mention hues or skin at all. I can’t even begin to list all of them, but I do not think this author has tried very hard to search for them if she is implying that they are rare. There have been even more and more over the past years —it has become a trend nowadays to make books more diverse, and more and more men and women of color are writing and illustrating for children. Is she discounting black illustrators like Bryan Collier, Kadir Nelson, Nina Crews, Ashley Bryan, Faith Ringgold, John Steptoe, and the many,many new ones out there? Yes, some of them illustrate books about black history, but not ONLY black history. Many of them create wonderful stories that could have a person of any color in them, because the color is not the focus —the special characters and the action and the stories are the focus. I don’t understand trying to plant seeds of doubt and resentment into a children’s story.
That being said, the illustrations are lovely. The story is lacking because of what I just explained. I hate to think that a young child reading this would think, “why bother looking for myself in more books if they don’t exist?” when those books are out there waiting to be enjoyed.
What I think there is a lack of is ADULT fiction books that have black characters as the main characters, doing interesting and exciting things and having adventures that do not focus on the fact that they are black. I tried to find some of those to read during Black History month as in my retirement, I enjoy reading according to themes. I ended up with books to read that have someone being the target of racism, or historical novels about the Civil Rights era or slavery. While those are important and I do want to read them as well, where are the adult books that emphasize —without having to say it—that black lives are not that much different in happiness, family life, interests, careers, and so on than people of other races?
I didn’t realize what a nerve was struck with this book until I started typing…I apologize for my rant. I just feel that a story like this just pokes at the differences, when we should be celebrating all of us being part of the same Human Race.
That being said, the illustrations are lovely. The story is lacking because of what I just explained. I hate to think that a young child reading this would think, “why bother looking for myself in more books if they don’t exist?” when those books are out there waiting to be enjoyed.
What I think there is a lack of is ADULT fiction books that have black characters as the main characters, doing interesting and exciting things and having adventures that do not focus on the fact that they are black. I tried to find some of those to read during Black History month as in my retirement, I enjoy reading according to themes. I ended up with books to read that have someone being the target of racism, or historical novels about the Civil Rights era or slavery. While those are important and I do want to read them as well, where are the adult books that emphasize —without having to say it—that black lives are not that much different in happiness, family life, interests, careers, and so on than people of other races?
I didn’t realize what a nerve was struck with this book until I started typing…I apologize for my rant. I just feel that a story like this just pokes at the differences, when we should be celebrating all of us being part of the same Human Race.
April 14, 2022
One young POC girl loves to read! She loves all of the beloved characters, places and stories.
There is a slight upset in her reading. She doesn't have any characters that look like her. Unfortunately, the characters that do look like her are only featured in historical books (and not usually happy or fun stories).
What can she do to make a change in this? What can she do to provide representation? Can she do it?
Find out!
In delightful whimsical illustrations that would make any animator or illustrator proud, Tiffany Rose gives us a fun look at the importance of diversity and inclusion. It doesn't have to be historical to be representative.
From working in a library myself, I see the representation slowly increasing in juvenile-young adult fiction to feature more diverse characters and stories and its great. We do still have a long way to go. Remember, keep reading, keep dreaming, send requests to publishing houses, support #OwnVoices authors and illustrators, because we are all unique and as I tell any patron who may ever question a book: Every voice has a story that should be shared.
There is a slight upset in her reading. She doesn't have any characters that look like her. Unfortunately, the characters that do look like her are only featured in historical books (and not usually happy or fun stories).
What can she do to make a change in this? What can she do to provide representation? Can she do it?
Find out!
In delightful whimsical illustrations that would make any animator or illustrator proud, Tiffany Rose gives us a fun look at the importance of diversity and inclusion. It doesn't have to be historical to be representative.
From working in a library myself, I see the representation slowly increasing in juvenile-young adult fiction to feature more diverse characters and stories and its great. We do still have a long way to go. Remember, keep reading, keep dreaming, send requests to publishing houses, support #OwnVoices authors and illustrators, because we are all unique and as I tell any patron who may ever question a book: Every voice has a story that should be shared.
April 5, 2024
The need for representation in the library is something that we often discuss at the schools. Over the years we have been able to improve our collection, but there is so much more work to do to make sure our students can see and hear themselves on the covers and in the pages.
This book clearly and beautifully expresses that need from a reader's perspective and that carries so much more weight than any discussion of policy.
This is a title I am recommending to all of my staff and admin. I am hoping that it can be a catalyst for staff and students to collaboratively seeking out any characters, cultures and circumstances that are missing (for now) from our shelves.
Bonus marks for pointing out that representation needs to be positive, accessible and in picture book and novel collections, not just on the history and country shelves.
February 6, 2024
I absolutely loved this book! It's adorable. This would be a great book to have in my personal collection for my own children or for my baby cousin, who is a avid reader. I also love the details in the book, like the little girl in bed, reading with her sleeping bonnet on - which I find to be so wonderful! Also, I love that she recognizes that many of the books she reads features characters that don't look like her, yet she still loves books, wants to write her own books, and seeks out books that feature characters and stories that both look like her and resonate with her. Great to have in any public or school library!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2025
(WORK READ)
A lot of ppl on here are forgetting this is a book FOR CHILDREN, and speaking as someone who works at a library in a conservative area, the author is right! There are not enough sci-fi/fantasy stories with poc in them, especially in the children's department
- This gets checked out pretty regularly
- Adorable illustrations
- I think it sends out a powerful message while still being fun and attention-grabbing to the kids
- If you're a library worker and this offended you, I advise you to really question whether you spend enough time LISTENING to those in your community
A lot of ppl on here are forgetting this is a book FOR CHILDREN, and speaking as someone who works at a library in a conservative area, the author is right! There are not enough sci-fi/fantasy stories with poc in them, especially in the children's department
- This gets checked out pretty regularly
- Adorable illustrations
- I think it sends out a powerful message while still being fun and attention-grabbing to the kids
- If you're a library worker and this offended you, I advise you to really question whether you spend enough time LISTENING to those in your community
March 31, 2022
While I definitely agree with the book's main point about a need for more people of color as main characters in all sorts of book (I do think this is getting better. Definitely not fixed, but getting better), I think the book came off as preachy. The title is also kind of misleading because instead of being a love letter to libraries, it's more of a criticism of them (which is fine. I get that work still needs to be done but then don't present it as a "love letter").
Added a star for the gorgeous illustrations!
Added a star for the gorgeous illustrations!
April 2, 2022
Author/illustrator tells her story of loving the library, spending much of a day reading books, and enjoying the stories. She is grateful for the library but begins to realize that she is not seeing kids and adults who look like her, lacking that ingredient, melanin! She's yearning for "Cocoa-colored mer-people/honey-hued dragon slayers" and more! And, from her words: "I once read that if the path you want doesn't exist, create it." And she did! More books have been written in recent years, like this one by Tiffany Rose. And it's a wonderful thing to read and see!
May 1, 2022
“From page to page, characters can become my best friends and make my heart soar, or they can become worthy adversaries to defeat with a clever plan.”
A little girl loves reading and spending time at the library. There’s just one problem: “I looked at all the books that I loved, but could not remember a single, solitary character that looked like myself in any of these different stories ...” And when she did find books with people of her “hue,” they were only stories of pain, struggle and hardship. So she decides to write her own.
A little girl loves reading and spending time at the library. There’s just one problem: “I looked at all the books that I loved, but could not remember a single, solitary character that looked like myself in any of these different stories ...” And when she did find books with people of her “hue,” they were only stories of pain, struggle and hardship. So she decides to write her own.
June 13, 2022
Given that a current mission for children's librarians is to make sure that books serve as windows and mirrors, this fits an interesting niche. The young narrator loves to read and recognizes a discomfort that darn few of her beloved protagonists look like her... there's an acute insufficiency of melanin. So we love to read but we want to see ourselves more in books. An honest observation and an honest need. A solution: to write your own stories. Perhaps this wonderful book could have been called: Dear Reader: A Love Letter to Potential Authors of Color. :-D Just a thought.
July 19, 2022
While I agree with the sentiment, the execution leaves a lot to be desired. The subtitle feels almost intentionally misleading as this is definitely not a "love letter to libraries" but rather a call to action regarding the underrepresentation of BIPOC in children's literature (particularly in stories of joy rather than suffering). The text is clunky with some occasional attempts at rhyme schemes but not consistent throughout. Again, I agree with the message, but I'm not sure a picture book was the right avenue for expressing it.
July 28, 2022
I am very conflicted about this book. I found the title to be very misleading, as this is in no way a love letter to libraries. This picture book does however, make a very important argument for representation in books. Overall, the book has great artwork and a good message, but both my child and myself felt such an important message could have been delivered in a better way. Also, as a librarian, I would really love to give the main character some book recommendations- as my library has many fantasy books with BIPOC characters.
April 13, 2023
A beautiful book and I love the illustrations so much. It talks about adventures and heroes and heroines that I also look forward to when reading. My favorite place is the library and I'm so glad that I am seeing more and more diverse authors and POC in these books. I've always believed that someone should be able to go into the library and see themselves on the shelves or want to learn about other cultures and races. And be able to check the books out without having some idiot say these books shouldn't be read. Don't even start with that in my presence.
September 2, 2024
Our main character, presumably the author Tiffany Rose as a young girl, loves to read! Quite frankly she just can't read enough. One day she realizes that none of the main characters in all these book she loves to read look like her. The only books that do, focus on African Americans are the ones of filled with pain and strife. Where are the books with heroines that have 'cocoa-colored skin', 'superheroes with locs' and 'Afro Puffs'?
*A wonderful story that highlights the need for representation of all people in stories!
*A wonderful story that highlights the need for representation of all people in stories!
May 9, 2022
This story is a love letter to libraries AND a call for diverse books! A young African American girl LOVES reading books but is sad to not see herself in any of her fantasy stories.
"So back to the library I went, searching for characters of the same hue.
And all I found were books of struggle, hardship and pain."
So the young girl decides to write her own stories because "Our stories are as diverse as our skin and deserve to be told."
"So back to the library I went, searching for characters of the same hue.
And all I found were books of struggle, hardship and pain."
So the young girl decides to write her own stories because "Our stories are as diverse as our skin and deserve to be told."
May 23, 2022
This was... fine. The subtitle is misleading; this is more about the authors frustration with the lack of representation in books than her love of libraries. Actually, libraries are barely mentioned in this book.
I agree with the author about the severe lack of representation in books, especially BIPOC representation. But this was not the picture book I expected it to be. The writing was also a bit clunky, and the rhyming was extremely sporadic. The art is very cute, though.
I agree with the author about the severe lack of representation in books, especially BIPOC representation. But this was not the picture book I expected it to be. The writing was also a bit clunky, and the rhyming was extremely sporadic. The art is very cute, though.
July 8, 2022
This was cute and the message is anything but subtle. The author wants libraries to have more diverse books so that she could've seen herself on the page when she was younger. Some of the pages have rhymes but others don't, which I thought was a bit odd. I did like the illustrations. I don't know that I'd buy this for my niblings but, if they saw it in the public library, I'm sure they wouldn't mind me reading it to them.
August 3, 2022
Run out and get a copy of this book and then donate it to your local library. It's an everybody book that anyone would love. It's really a message to publishers to publish more diverse books. Purchasing a copy is the stamp it needs, the vote, the endorsement. School libraries are especially underfunded and rarely see new books. Teachers need to build classroom libraries and would love the gift of a picture book. So many children will see themselves in this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews