115 // Dear Librarian / Lydia M. Sigwarth (Author), Romina Galotta (Illustrator)
- Sarah Peden
- Jul 20, 2021
- 1 min read
Dear Librarian / Lydia M. Sigwarth (Author), Romina Galotta (Illustrator)
Farrar Strauss & Giroux
2021
When Lydia was five years old, she and her family had to leave their home. They hopped from Grandma's house to Aunt Linda's house to Cousin Alice's house, but no place was permanent. Then one day, everything changed. Lydia's mom took her to a new place ― not a house, but a big building with stone columns, and tall, tall steps. The library. In the library, Lydia found her special spot across from the sunny window, at a round desk. For behind that desk was her new friend, the librarian. Together, Lydia and the librarian discovered a world beyond their walls, one that sparkled with spectacular joy. - from Amazon
Libraries - Homelessness
Oh I BAWLED. I'm not sure that I can be very objective here. I had heard this story on This American Life years ago - I'm actually in a tight knit little library FB group with the author, and she had shared the interview - so I was VERY excited to get this book in my hands. The kindness of the librarian and her influence on little Lydia is everything I aspire to be as a librarian. The line "You looked me in the eyes and listened to me like I was a grow-up" is just so beautiful and speaks to the dignity a child can be afforded when they aren't treated like a problem. I love how the illustration showed a literal blossoming of exploration and freedom and growth. Ok, gonna go cry some more.
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