Module 1: Miss Brooks Loves Books! (and I don't)

Miss Brooks Loves Books! (and I don't)  

by Barbara Bottner and illustrated by Michael Emberley

published in 2010 by Alfred A. Knopf (New York).

Summary

Miss Brooks is an extravagant librarian that loves to get kids excited about books!  She is so excited about books and loves sharing them with the kids so much that she dresses up to match the book she is reading.  Everyone loves her and the books she shares except Missy.    Then the dreaded day comes when the whole class has to share their favorite books with each other.  Missy finally finds that even she can find a book to love.

Impressions

I thought this was a fun book for several reasons.  One, it mentions quite a few famous classic children's books.  And two, it has a great message about how there are books for everyone with all sorts of different tastes!  The illustrations are not amazing, but they are fun.  I do enjoy how they help illustrate Missey's "I'm too cool for you and for any book under the sun" attitude.  

Reviews

"Children will delight in Emberley's spirited watercolor and ink renderings of literary favorites from The Very Hungry Caterpillar to a Wild Thing. Bottner's deadpan humor and delicious prose combine with Emberley's droll caricatures to create a story sure to please those who celebrate books-and one that may give pause to those who don't (or who work with the latter)." -Wendy Lukehart

Lukehart, W. (2010).  School Library Journal. Retrieved from Bowker's Books in Print database.

"A scowling first-grader in spectacles, a knitted hat, and overalls cannot stand her bubbly librarian, who dresses up in costumes for reading circle, where she introduces books about dragons, Pilgrims, presidents, and Groundhogs, even For Book Week, everyone in class has to bring a favorite story, and the young girl has only grouchy comebacks for the other kids, who enthusiastically share books about trains (too clickety), fairies (too flowery), cowboys (too yuppity), and dogs (too furry). When the librarian sends the little rebel home with a bagful of books, she does not like any of them--until she finds a story about a stubborn, smelly, snorty ogre with warts, William Steig's Shrek, and that makes her grab more books about ogres, just like her. The cartoon-style illustrations extend the comedy in images of the expressive girl and her librarian, who dresses in wild miniskirts, boots, and flowers and is far from the usual stereotype. Lots of fun for avid and reluctant readers alike." - Hazel Rochman

Rochman, H. (2010). Booklist. Retrieved from Bowker's Books in Print database. 

Uses

Miss Brooks would be a great book for school librarians to use to start of the new school year; usually when the classes come in for the first time.  Or for public librarians to use at the beginning of the new reading program.  The book is a great way to introduce kids to the library, the librarian, and books in general as it can help teach kids that there is a book for everyone!