10/24/08

Title: The Librarian of Basra
Author/ Illustrator: Jeanette Winter
Publisher: Harcourt, Inc.
Publication Date: 2005
Awards: None
Genre: Non-Fiction
Audience: Gr. 2, 3, 4, 5
Overview: In this true story from Iraq, Jeanette Winter gives the reader a much different view of the current war that the United States is involved in. In The Librarian of Basra, Alia is the librarian. When the war threatens to destroy her library, Alia decides that she has to take things into her own hands in order to save the priceless literature her library has. Alia decides she must relocate the books to a safe place. Will Alia be able to save the treasured books in her library before it is too late?
Activity: After reading The Librarian of Basra to students have them make a list of 5 things that they would save if their house was on fire. Ask them to explain why they would save the objects that they chose.
Reviewer’s Name: Tommy Kurtzman