Illustrated by Chanelle Nibbelink
Kids Can Press
978-1-5253-1156-7
48 pp.
Ages 8–12
October 6, 2026
Libraries do more than just lend books. They lend ideas. They share knowledge. They provide a safe space. They reflect the people in the community. They help us understand ourselves better. They preserve history and address social problems. (pg. 7)
Want to know about libraries? This Is a Library Book is a book about libraries, and, whether you borrow it from your local school or public library, or if you purchase it, it has everything you need to know about this institution.
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| Illustration by Chanelle Nibbelink from This Is a Library Book, written by Joyce Grant |
Joyce Grant talks about what libraries are, what services they provide, how they have evolved over time, what they might look like in the future, and more. She makes note of extraordinary libraries around the world, like ones that were secret or hidden, those that defied bans, those that are mobile, and those without buildings or books. If it's a library of any sort, from the first libraries ever established or one whose books will only be revealed in 2114, then Joyce Grant has it covered in This Is a Library Book. |
| Illustration by Chanelle Nibbelink from This Is a Library Book, written by Joyce Grant |
The scope of Joyce Grant's story of libraries is extraordinary. She gives us the history of libraries and the promise, service and opportunity they provide. She asks questions of readers about their own experiences with books and libraries, and even provides an informative flip-a-coin and move game called, "The 'Where Can I Get a Book?' Game." Learning about libraries is as entertaining and enlightening as visiting one. |
| Illustration by Chanelle Nibbelink from This Is a Library Book, written by Joyce Grant |
Canadian-American illustrator Chanelle Nibbelink provides the bold colours and quirky shapes to animate This Is a Library Book. Because of her digital art, Chanelle Nibbelink makes libraries look like places of activity and people and more. Her people are diverse, her concepts are sophisticated—like the unchaining of locked books—and her art lets us see more of libraries than usually known. |
| Illustration by Chanelle Nibbelink from This Is a Library Book, written by Joyce Grant |
Most readers know the value of libraries. But, as Joyce Grant and Chanelle Nibbelink show us, libraries are more than just books. They are communities that share ideas and resources, provide services and commodities, including books, and offer a safe space. This Is a Library Book will help others understand the importance of libraries and hopefully help these institutions to endure and evolve as hallmarks of great communities.
