Dr. Toughlove’s July 2023 column is below.
The Queen Anne’s Library Summer Reading Program is in full swing, so Dr. Toughlove thought it would be a fine time to review “The Loud Librarian”. This 2023 picture book is written by Jenna Beatrice and is illustrated by Erika Lynne Jones.
Penelope, the protagonist in “The Loud Librarian”, has been selected to be the new student-librarian at her school. Penelope has been preparing for this opportunity for a long time. She has been alphabetizing food jars at home, pushing carts of laundry (that could just as easily be books) and making due date stickers. Penelope is friendly, helpful, a booklover and VERY LOUD!
Jenna Beatrice portrays Penelope in all of her splendor – she is her lovable, unapologetic self. Erika Lynne Jones’s brilliant illustrations serve to portray her personality, which is not necessarily compatible with a quiet library, to its fullest. Large font size and speech bubbles are used to accentuate Penelope’s loud voice and boisterous persona.
Dr. Toughlove doesn’t want to give the story away, but after wreaking havoc at the library, Penelope finds a way to use her talents to become a successful student-librarian. This book provides opportunities to talk to young children about how to solve problems in their own lives when they arise. Dr. Toughlove believes that one of the strengths of picture books is their ability to help empower youngster to see themselves as problem-solvers. This book is a stellar example of this phenomenon.
“The Loud Librarian” would make an excellent read aloud book, in part because of Penelope’s boisterous voice. If you have any budding theatre performers in your midst, they would have a ball speaking in Penelope’s LOUD voice. “The Loud Librarian” is Jenna Beatrice’s first picture book, and Dr. Toughlove suspects it won’t be her last. “The Loud Librarian” is appropriate for children aged 4-8 and is available at the Queen Anne’s County Library.