Books by Horseback: A Librarian's Brave Journey to Deliver Books to Children

In rural Kentucky, Edith, a pale, freckled human with a red braid, is a packhorse librarian, who "travels for miles to deliver books" every day atop her trusty brown steed, Dan. Berne describes Edith's journey to deliver books to one white family, the Caudills, employing plenty of sensory details that effectively convey the stakes ("Water splashes up onto Dan's chest. Edith grips the book sack tight. If her books get wet, they'll be ruined"). Urbinati contributes absorbing natural spreads awash with muted color, depicting dynamic characters in the ever-smiling Edith and lithe Dan. The book ends on a strangely tense note ("The creeks are going to be extra dangerous after the rain"), but the fictional narrative proves captivating as young readers learn the lengths real-life librarians went to serve their communities during the Great Depression. Back matter includes an author's note and bibliography. Ages 4-8. (May)

PreS-Gr 2--A simple story about the lengths that people will go to in support of literacy. Delivering books on the back of a horse is no easy task. Faced with storms and flooding creek beds, Edith, who is white, and her trusty horse Dan make their way through the mountains to ensure William gets his adventure book. But with the weather and terrain, Edith and Dan have an adventure of their own. The story is greatly enhanced with panoramic illustrations in single- and double-page spreads. With a natural, earthy palette throughout, close perspective drawings appear on single pages, while action and depth are spread across two-page expanses that convey the danger and vastness of the area that Edith must traverse to complete her task. This is an excellent forum for bringing history and literacy together while broadening the experiences and perspectives of young readers. VERDICT Whether to incorporate into lessons about transportation or on westward expansion, this is an excellent addition for libraries and classrooms.--Elizabeth Speer, Weatherford Coll., TX