Title: The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq
Author: Jeanette Winter
Year Published: 2005
Ages: 4-8 years old
Why I chose this book: I have mixed feelings about Iraq, which makes me very sad because I want to be like Switzerland. Being neutral like Switzerland will let me have an open mind about places that have negative images such as Iraq. I know there are so many wonderful things we don't know about Iraq, but all we hear about is the war, the Taliban and negative things. I was curious about the positive things that happen in the country and about the country. I know for a fact that Iraq has some good in it and I wanted to explore that.
Reaction: There are wonderful things and people in Iraq! A librarian named Alia and her small community risked their lives to save the library in a town called Basra. The library was a place for people to gather and have conversations. The librarian felt the books were so important to save, they dared to move 20, 000 books during a time of much violence and turmoil. I am especially saddened that the book is essentially a cliffhanger, not for the satisfaction of my own curiosity, but to know if the books and Alia are safe and if the town of Basra is on it's way to be restored. Books are powerful and the fact that we in the United States have free access to any book should not be taken for granted.
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