I like to start every new school year by reading a book about libraries to the students. This year I choose The Library by Sarah Stewart. I am often discovering library books that I didn’t know we had. This is one such book. After reading it I was charmed by the sweet and engaging pictures as well as the rhyming sequences.
Elizabeth Brown doesn’t like to play with dolls, and she doesn’t like to skate. What does Elizabeth Brown like to do? She likes to read lots and lots of books. The story follows Elizabeth from birth, when she dropped out of the sky to old age when she donates her house and books to her town.
I love the pictures by David Small. This is one of those books that ask you to take a close look and find hidden objects within the main picture story. In almost every illustration we see Elizabeth’s teddy bear. Often times the bear is imitating her. There are also lots of cats and even a few dogs hidden in each photo.
The rhymes help children anticipate the story. Most classes who have heard the story end up finishing the sentences for me.
“Elizabeth Brown
Walked into town
that very afternoon.
Elizabeth Brown
Walked into town
Whistling a happy tune.
She didn’t want a bicycle,
She didn’t want silk bows.
She went strait to the courthouse-
‘May I have one of those?’
The form was for donations.
She quickly wrote this line:
‘I, E. Brown, give to the town
All that was ever mine.'”
If you have not read this book, I highly recommend you check it out as well as other books by husband and wife team Sarah Stewart and David Small.
The Falcon's Fables 
Leave a Reply