Wild & Wonderful Wednesday: Two Fabulous New Picture Books

On Wild and Wonderful Wednesday's I highlight books I've read that have characters or settings or plot that strike me as wild and/or wonderful.  The Library Dragon is definitely a wild charcter and The Fantastic Flying Books has well, fantastic flying books. :)

RETURN OF THE LIBRARY DRAGON
by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Michael P. White
Peachtree Publishers, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-56145-621-5
Grades K-3
Reviewed from personal copy.

After 682 years of faithful service, Miss Lotty is retiring from guarding books. But before she can check out of Sunrise Elementary for good, disaster strikes. Someone has ordered all the books removed from the library and replaced with machines! It s enough to make Lotty feel a little...dragon-like. When she bursts into a fiery rage, only one thing can make her shed her scales: assurance that someone will fight to keep her precious books in the hands of Sunrise s children. Lotty is sure she ll have to stay on and do the job herself, until a surprise appearance from Lotty s old friend Molly Brickmeyer changes things for the better. 

For those who loved The Library Dragon comes the return of Miss Lotty.  Miss Lotty is getting ready to retire and enjoy some personal time. But when she is informed that the books have disappeared from the library and been 'replaced' with computers and e-readers, she starts smoking. When Mike Krochip informs Miss Lotty that the library has become a 'cybrary' Miss Lotty's scales start returning, until Molly shows up and takes care of things.  I loved the emphasis here on books.  While many changes have come and will be coming to libraries both public and school, the book has not been replaced and I sincerely hope never will be.  There is nothing quite like holding a book in your hand and turning the pages, plus you don't need to worry about the book turning itself off.  That doesn't mean that technology isn't very much a part of the changes coming to libraries because it very much is.  I think the author did a great job showcasing the importance of meeting the needs of all patrons.  I also very much enjoyed the wordplay and humor of the book (I mean seriously, a character named Mike Krochip?!). I recommend this book to all who enjoy a good story, but also want children to understand that libraries have much to offer besides technology.

THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS OF MR. MORRIS LESSMORE
by William Joyce
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4424-5702-7
Grades K and up
Reviewed from personal copy.

Morris Lessmore loved words.
He loved stories.
He loved books.
But every story has its upsets.

Everything in Morris Lessmore’s life, including his own story, is scattered to the winds.    

But the power of story will save the day. 

I loved this book. Part of that is because I love books and being a librarian and can relate the Morris. But the story is also wonderful with beautiful illustrations. I find that this is the sort of story that you can read over and over and end up smiling every time.  I love thinking of the library as a place where books 'nest.'  I also enjoyed seeing Morris as a book doctor helping to repair injured and damaged books.  From experience I can say that this is not always an easy thing to do.  While I hate to see books damaged, if it means they are being well-loved, it's worth the price. I can also easily relate to Morris becoming lost in a book, I don't do that as much any more, I don't have the focus I used to have, but it still happens and it always reminds me of what I love so much about reading.  I highly, highly recommend this book for all book lovers of any age!