Take a magical trip to the New York Public Library for Perfect Picture Book Friday. Here’s a touching tale of stories, loved ones, precious memories, and the magical power of the library lions that stand guard in the front..
Title: The Night Library
Written by: David Zeltser
Illustrated by: Raul Colón
Random House 2019
Suitable for ages: 4-8
Themes/topics: patience, fortitude, books, libraries, memories
Opening:
It was the night before my eighth birthday, and I was having trouble falling asleep. A thick blanket of snow had silenced the street outside. I could hear my parents’ whispers in the hallway. I heard footsteps approaching, and my door opened.
Overview:
After a young boy goes to sleep upset that he’s getting a book for his birthday, he’s visited in the night by Patience and Fortitude, the two stone lions who guard the New York Public Library. Soon, he’s magically whisked away from his cozy home in the Bronx, and the two mighty lions show him the wonder of the library. There, the inquisitive Latino boy discovers the power of books and their role not only in his own life, but also in the lives of the people he loves.
Raul Colon’s gorgeous, rich art creates an immersive world in this book about books, which is sure to capture the imaginations of kids and adults and inspire them to grab their library cards and dive into the worlds of stories.
Activities and Resources:
What is one of your favorite books? What memories do you have that go with it?
Make up a magical story about a statue you’ve seen.
Why I like this book:
Raul Colón has an almost vintage style, so unique, so soft and warm. This story reminds me of Chris Van Allsburg and his thought-provoking endings that leave you with something magical. And a library is magical – the power of books goes beyond the story they contain to include the experience of reading together, learning to read, and special moments embedded in memories. They can even carry a sadness of loss. The gentle narrative lets us know that fond memories, along with Fortitude and Patience – the library lions, can carry us past loss and and through challenges.
Visit author Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Books for a plethora of picture books listed by title and topic/theme, each with teacher/parent activities and resources.
Beth Anderson, Children's Writer 
This looks like the kind of picture book I could fall in love with both for the story and those gorgeous illustrations!
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Love how Zeltser took a bit of reality and made it magical!
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I love this book! I was fortunate to talk with Raul Colón this spring about this books and illustrating in general. He had a lot of fun creating this book. Who wouldn’t like to ride a library lion on a night time adventure to the NY Public Library!
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After I saw your post, I had to see it. Love it!
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I love this book! I first discovered it when Maria wrote about it this past spring. It’s so beautiful and magical! The original library lions.
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I requested it at the library after Maria’s post. I thought it deserved another round of applause! 🙂
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Yes, sometimes when I get all of the books home that everyone has recommended, I can’t remember whether I’ve just found it sitting on a library shelf, or whether someone has already done a post about it. But I figure more reviews are always welcome! I think it helps give a book longer legs, too. Sometimes I’ll wait to review a book a few months after its initial pub date. PR people would probably say that they want as many reviews as they can get right up front, but I don’t know. I think that spreading them out can’t hurt, either.
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What an intriguing plot with cozy illustrations! Thank you for introducing me to it and giving the book some more book love.
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