National Library week is celebrated from April 6-12. To celebrate, our Librarians have compiled a grand list of books from the Trove! Enjoy.

Board Books

Enzo Es Un Bibliotecario/Enzo Is A Librarian by Jessica Spanyol

What will Enzo be today? Follow Enzo and his friends as they explore the many things a librarian does in a day. Role-play is crucial to a child's positive development, boosting language and social skills, and building self-confidence. This humorous and caring interaction of an inclusive group of playmates will inspire young readers to create their own diverse roles, free of gender stereotypes. ¿Qué será Enzo hoy? Sigue a Enzo y sus amigos mientras exploran todo lo que hace un bibliotecario en un día. El juego de roles es fundamental para el buen desarrollo de un niño, ya que estimula el lenguaje y las habilidades sociales, y fomenta la confianza en sí mismo. Esta interacción divertida y fraternal de un grupo inclusivo de compañeros de juego, inspirará a los lectores jóvenes a crear sus propios roles, diversos y libres de estereotipos de género.

I'm a Librarian by Brian Briggs

The Tinyville Town preschool series stacks up in a whole new way with the addition of the fourth volume, I'm a Librarian – the latest board book to feature one of the many diverse residents of the charming town. In I'm a Librarian, readers get to know the town librarian as he helps a little boy find a favorite book. As the search progresses, fans of the series will recognize many other residents of Tinyville Town also visiting the library

Library Babies by Puck

Here come the library babies, ready to give you a tour of their favorite local library! There's no place more magical than a library, where adventures can be had both inside the pages of a book and out. Here you can find hidden nooks for reading, encounter new worlds during story time, and take the big step of signing up for your very first library card. From puppet shows to getting to take out towering stacks of books to enjoy at home, this joyful board book teaches every child that through books and libraries, the possibilities are endless. And the fun doesn't end there: Library Babies includes oodles of activities and educational reading tips to help parents enjoy the book with their children over and over again!

Lola at the Library with Mommy by Anna McQuinn

Every Tuesday Lola and her mommy go to the library. Lola meets her friends there. They share books and don't have to be quiet all the time. The nice librarian tells stories. There is a big machine that buzzes Lola's books in and out, and she can take any books she wants home with her. Lola and her mommy always stop for a treat on the way home. No wonder Lola loves the library. This gentle story of growing with books encourages little ones to discover the joy of reading as well as getting them ready and excited to visit the library.

Lola Loves Stories with Daddy by Anna McQuinn

Bookworms big and small will be charmed by lovable Lola in this delightful sequel to LOLA AT THE LIBRARY that celebrates imagination and the love of reading. Lola loves to go to the library with her daddy. Every night she reads a new story, and the next day, she acts it out. One day she's a fairy princess, the next day she goes on a trip to Lagos! She becomes a tiger, a farmer, a pilot. . . . what will Lola be next? Children and adults will love following along with Lola's adventures. LOLA LOVES STORIES is a wonderful introduction to the power of reading and how it can inspire young minds at the earliest ages.

Picture Books (Fiction)

The Great Banned-Books Bake Sale by Aya Kahil

Upon learning that the books with kids who look like her have been banned by her school district, Kanzi descends into fear and helplessness. But her classmates support her, and together-with their teacher's help-they hatch a plan to hold a bake sale and use the proceeds to buy diverse books to donate to libraries. The event is a big success; the entire school participates, and the local TV station covers it in the evening news. Prodded by her classmates to read the poem she has written, Kanzi starts softly but finds her voice. “You have banned important books, but you can't ban my words,” she reads. “Books are for everyone.” The crowd chants, “No banned books! No banned books!” and the next week, the ban is reversed.

A Library by Nikki Giovanni

In this lyrical picture book, world-renowned poet, New York Times bestselling author, and Coretta Scott King Honor winner Nikki Giovanni and fine artist Erin Robinson craft an ode to the magic of a library as a place not only for knowledge but also for imagination, exploration, and escape. In what other place can a child “sail their dreams” and “surf the rainbow” without ever leaving the room This ode to libraries is a celebration for everyone who loves stories, from seasoned readers to those just learning to love words, and it will have kids and parents alike imagining where their library can take them. This inspiring read-aloud includes stunning illustrations and a note from Nikki Giovanni about the importance of libraries in her own childhood.

The Library Bus by Bahram Rahman

Author Bahram Rahman grew up in Afghanistan during years of civil war and the restrictive Taliban regime of 1996-2001. He wrote The Library Bus to tell new generations about the struggles of women who, like his own sister, were forbidden to learn. It is still dark in Kabul, Afghanistan when the library bus rumbles out of the city. There are no bus seats–instead there are chairs and tables and shelves of books. And there are no passengers–instead there is Pari, who is nervously starting her first day as Mama's library helper. Pari stands tall to hand out notebooks and pencils at the villages and the refugee camp, but she feels intimidated. The girls they visit are learning to write English from Mama. Pari can't even read or write in Farsi yet. But next year she will go to school and learn all there is to know. And she is so lucky. Not long ago, Mama tells her, girls were not allowed to read at all.

Lost in the Library: A Story of Patience and Fortitude by Josh Funk

That is until, one early morning, when Fortitude finds Patience is missing. The city is about to awake, and the lions absolutely must be in their places before the sun rises. Now, Fortitude must abandon his own post to find his best friend in the Library's labyrinthine halls. With Josh Funk's clever rhymes and Steview Lewis' vibrant art, Lost in the Library introduces young readers to a pair of unforgettable lions, as well as the famed New York Public Library, and includes bonus material loaded with facts about Patience, Fortitude, and the NYPL's history.

Love in the Library by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

During World War II, Tama is sent to live in an incarceration camp in the desert. All Japanese Americans from the West Coast–elderly people, children, babies–now live in camps like Minidoka. To be who she is has become a crime, and Tama doesn't know when or if she will ever leave. Trying not to think of the life she once had, she works in the incarceration camp's tiny library, taking solace in pages bursting with color and light, love and fairness. And she isn't the only one. George waits each morning by the door, his arms piled with books checked out the day before. As their friendship grows, Tama wonders: Can anyone possibly read so much? Is she the reason George comes to the library every day? Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Yas Imamura's beautifully illustrated, elegant love story features a photo of the real Tama and George–the author's grandparents–and an unflinching and necessary afterword that helps readers to learn more about a time in our history that continues to resonate.

Nour's Secret Library by Wafa Tarnowska

The world of books is wonderful, Nour thought, looking at the piles of books around her. Like a galaxy full of stars. Some are shinier than others, but together they make the sky sparkle. When their Syrian city is plagued with bombings, young Nour and her cousin Amir create a secret underground library, finding hope and escape for the people in their community within its walls. Based on the author's life and inspired by true events, Nour's Secret Library reveals the power of books to heal, transport, and create safe havens in difficult times.

Our Incredible Library Book And the Wonderful Journeys It Took by Caroline Crowe

The story of one incredible library book and all the children who've borrowed it. Fun, rhyming text from Caroline Crowe and bright, joyful illustrations from New York Times-bestseller John Joseph celebrate a love of books and libraries. Readers will pore over the clever details – hot chocolate rings, a hastily taped page and an accidental splash. This library book is very special. It's been hugged, lost, torn, chewed by a dog and soaked in the rain. It's been read in apartments and in tents, by children wearing costumes and pyjamas, reading alone and with family. Each time it returns to the library it's a little more worn, but a lot more loved. For every rip, scribble or stain there's a child who has found adventure or escape, comfort or excitement in its pages. That's the magic of a library book!

Our Library by Eve Bunting

When Miss Goose announces that the library is going to close forever, Raccoon and his friends spring into action. Where will they get the help they need to save their beloved library? In books, of course! This cheery tale from ever-popular author Eve Bunting shows how important libraries are to every community. Bright, playful illustrations enhance the light treatment of this serious subject, in a story that celebrates the value of books in everyone's lives.

Reading Beauty by Deborah Underwood

An empowering tale for all kids, Reading Beauty features fun, rhyming text, loveable characters, and a heartwarming ending that will keep young minds entertained. A irrepressible fairy tale retelling that is sure to charm readers of all ages: When a fairy's curse–a deathlike sleep via paper cut–threatens to make her kingdom barren of books, it's up to space princess Lex to break the spell and bring books back to her people. Set in the universe of the acclaimed Interstellar Cinderella, this empowering bedtime story for girls will entice young readers with its brave heroine, star-studded setting, and hilarious, heartwarming happy ending.

This Book is Not For You by Shannon Hale

Stanley's thrilled for bookmobile day-until the old man at the window refuses to lend him the story he wants, all because it features a girl. “Girl books” are only for girls, the book man insists, just like cat books are only for cats and robot books are only for robots. But when a dinosaur arrives at the bookmobile and successfully demands a book about ponies, Stanley musters the courage to ask for the tale he really wants-about a girl adventurer fighting pirates on the open seas. By speaking up, Stanley inspires the people, cats, robots, and goats around him to read more stories outside their experiences and enjoy the pleasure of a good book of their choosing.

Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown

Ana loves stories. She often makes them up to help her little brother fall asleep. But in her small village there are only a few books and she has read them all. One morning, Ana wakes up to the clip-clop of hooves, and there before her, is the most wonderful sight: a traveling library resting on the backs of two burros‑all the books a little girl could dream of, with enough stories to encourage her to create one of her own. Inspired by the heroic efforts of real-life librarian Luis Soriano, award-winning picture book creators Monica Brown and John Parra introduce readers to the mobile library that journeys over mountains and through valleys to bring literacy and culture to rural Colombia, and to the children who wait for the BiblioBurro.

Picture Books (Nonfiction/Biography)

Amazing Libraries by Anita Nahta Amin

In this book, early fluent readers will learn about the technology behind the world's coolest libraries, covering how they are planned, designed, and constructed by architects and engineers. Crisp, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage young readers as they learn more. An infographic aids understanding, and an activity offers readers an opportunity to extend discovery.

Behind My Doors: The Story of the World's Oldest Library by Hena Khan

Come learn about the oldest operating library in existence, which was originally founded by a Muslim woman in 859! Merhaba! Welcome! Meet Al-Qarawiyyin Library–the oldest library in the world. Do you want to see what magical treasures are behind its doors? You'll find special reading rooms where young and old gathered to discuss, debate, and discover the world. And, most important, the collection of books that hold knowledge more valuable than any jewels! Open its doors, unlock its story, and discover an adventure that only a library can share. Told from the unique perspective of the library, award-winning author Hena Khan, along with luminous illustrations by Nabila Adani, bring to readers Behind My Doors, a charming ode to the magical wonders of each and every library.

Digging for Words: José Alberto Gutiérrez and the Library He Built by Angela Burke Kunkel

A gorgeous and inspiring picture book based on the life of Jose Alberto Gutierrez, a garbage collector in Bogota, Colombia who started a library with a single discarded book found on his route. In the city of Bogata, in the barrio of La Nueva Gloria, there live two Joses. One is a boy who dreams of Saturdays– that's the day he gets to visit Paradise, the library. The second Jose is a garbage collector. From dusk until dawn, he scans the sidewalks as he drives, squinting in the dim light, searching household trash for hidden treasure . . . books! Some are stacked in neat piles, as if waiting for José. Others take a bit more digging. Ever since he found his first book, Anna Karenina, years earlier, he's been collecting books–thick ones and thin ones, worn ones and almost new ones– to add to the collection in his home. And on Saturdays, kids like little Jose run to the steps of Paradise to discover a world filled with books and wonder. With an evocative text by a debut author, and rich, stunning illustrations from an up-and-coming Colombian illustrator, here is a celebration of perseverance, community, and the power of books.

Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller by Breanna J. McDaniel

From an award-winning author and illustrator comes this picture book biography about beloved librarian and storyteller Augusta Braxton Baker, the first Black coordinator of children's services at all branches of the New York Public Library. Before Augusta Braxton Baker became a storyteller, she was an excellent story listener. Her grandmother brought stories like Br'er Rabbit and Arthur and Excalibur to life, teaching young Augusta that when there's a will, there's always a way. When she grew up, Mrs. Baker began telling her own fantastical stories to children at the 135th Street branch of the New York Public Library in Harlem. But she noticed that there were hardly any books at the library featuring Black people in respectful, uplifting ways. Thus began her journey of championing books, writers, librarians, and teachers centering Black stories, educating and inspiring future acclaimed authors like Audre Lorde and James Baldwin along the way. As Mrs. Baker herself put it: “Children of all ages want to hear stories. Select well, prepare well and then go forth and just tell.”

The Library by Julie Murray

The library is an important place in our communities. Kids will learn about why libraries are needed, who works there, and what kinds of things happen there.

Little Libraries, Big Heroes by Miranda Paul

From an award-winning author and illustrator, the inspiring story of how the Little Free Library organization brings communities together through books, from founder Todd Bol's first installation to the creation of more than 75,000 mini-libraries around the world. Todd and his friends love heroes. But in school, Todd doesn't feel heroic. Reading is hard for him, and he gets scolded for asking too many questions. How will he ever become the kind of hero he admires? Featuring stunning illustrations that celebrate the diversity of the Little Free Library movement, here is the story of how its founder, Todd Bol, became a literacy superhero. Thanks to Todd and thousands of volunteers–many of whom are kids–millions of books have been enjoyed around the world. This creative movement inspires a love of reading, strengthens communities, and provides meeting places where new friendships, ideas–and heroes!–spring to life.

Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: The Story of the Lady Who Made Libraries for Children by Jan Pinborough

Once upon a time, American children couldn't borrow library books. Reading wasn't all that important for children, many thought. Luckily Miss Anne Carroll Moore thought otherwise! This is the true story of how Miss Moore created the first children's room at the New York Public Library, a bright, warm room filled with artwork, window seats, and most important of all, borrowing privileges to the world's best children's books in many different languages.

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Denise

When she came to America in 1921, Pura Belpré carried the cuentos folklóricos of her Puerto Rican homeland. Finding a new home at the New York Public Library as a bilingual assistant, she turned her popular retellings into libros and spread story seeds across the land. Today, these seeds have grown into a lush landscape as generations of children and storytellers continue to share her tales and celebrate Pura's legacy. Brought to colorful life by Paola Escobar's elegant and exuberant illustrations and Anika Aldamuy Denise's lyrical text, this gorgeous book is perfect for the pioneers in your life.

Ron's Big Mission by Rose Blue

Nine-year-old Ron loves going to the Lake City Public Library to look through all the books on airplanes and flight. Today, Ron is ready to take out books by himself. But in the segregated world of South Carolina in the 1950s, Ron's obtaining his own library card is not just a small rite of passage-it is a young man's first courageous mission. Here is an inspiring story, based on Ron McNair's life, of how a little boy, future scientist, and Challenger astronaut desegregated his library through peaceful resistance.

Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library by Carole Boston Weatherford

Amid the scholars, poets, authors, and artists of the Harlem Renaissance stood an Afro-Puerto Rican named Arturo Schomburg. This law clerk's life's passion was to collect books, letters, music, and art from Africa and the African diaspora and bring to light the achievements of people of African descent through the ages. When Schomburg's collection became so big it began to overflow his house (and his wife threatened to mutiny), he turned to the New York Public Library, where he created and curated a collection that was the cornerstone of a new Negro Division. A century later, his groundbreaking collection, known as the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, has become a beacon to scholars all over the world.

Stacey’s Remarkable Books by Stacey Abrams

Stacey's favorite day of the week is Thursday, when the whole class goes to the library and she gets to lose herself in her beloved books. On one of these special days, Stacey discovers that a new student named Julie has trouble reading in English, so they begin sharing books and stories to practice. Soon more students start to join them. Books take the group on magical adventures and reveal other worlds and cultures–but best of all, they bring them together as friends. This is another inspiring tale, based on a true story from Stacey Abrams's childhood, about the life-changing power of books.

Easy Readers

Biscuit Loves the Library by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Woof, woof! It's a very special day at the library, Biscuit! It's Read to a Pet Day at the library! There are so many fun things to see and do! Biscuit plays with story-time puppets, visits with friends, and listens to recorded books. Before he goes, a librarian helps him find the activity that he loves most of all. This joyful story will help cultivate a love of books and libraries in children who are learning to read.

Books are the Best by Maggie Testa

It's storytime at the library! Right away, Daniel and O find a really cool pop up-book and can't wait for O's Uncle X to read it to them. But as soon as Uncle X begins, O looks around and gets distracted by all of the other great books! Can O's uncle teach him to focus on what's special about the book they are reading at that moment before moving on to the next?

Daniel Visits the Library by Maggie Testa

Daniel Tiger and Prince Wednesday are so excited for story time at the library! But first they have to lean how to be calm and quiet. Can they calm down before story time starts? This relatable story includes tips at the end for how to help your little one learn when to be quiet and when it's okay to be silly!

The Loving Library by Amandeep S. Kochar

Jeet and his puppy Fudge love to read, but they wish they had more friends to share their passion for books. Inspired by another Sikh boy practicing seva–selfless acts of kindness–by donating books to those in need, Jeet, Fudge, and their family set out to give back to their community. Through their efforts, they discover the joy of sharing stories, helping others, and maybe even finding some reading buddies along the way! This Level 2 emerging reader is the latest installment in the Jeet and Fudge series, blending relatable adventures with uplifting messages. With themes of compassion, generosity, and community building, this story is sure to inspire young readers to spread kindness in their own unique ways.

King & Kayla and the Case of the Lost Library Book by Dori Hillestad Butler

Kayla needs to return her library books, but she can't find one of them. King knows that if they don't return all the books, they can't check out more–and that means no new stories. Analytical Kayla retraces her steps, with the assistance of their friend Jillian. Sensitive King smells a library book. Could it be lost in Dad's chair? Nope, that's a different book. In fact, it's a book that belongs to Jillian's little brother Adam. Can King and Kayla put the pieces together and find the lost library book?

Pinkalicious and the Pinkmazing Little Library by Victoria Kann

Pinkalicious loves reading so much, she can't stop. The perfect Level One I Can Read to share with your book-loving beginning reader! Pinkalicious reads in bed, at the table, and even while she is walking. When Pinkalicious can't find any new books to read at the library, what does she do She makes a pinkamazing little library. It's booktastic!

Yasmin the Librarian by Saadia Faruqi

It's library day, and Yasmin is the helper! She loves shelving books, but suddenly, Yasmin discovers that her own special book is missing. How will she find it among all the other books?

Middle Grade

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

When Kyle learns that the world's most famous game maker, Luigi Lemoncello, has designed the town's new library and is having an invitation-only lock-in on opening night, he's determined to be there! But the tricky part isn't getting into the library–it's getting out. Because when morning comes, the doors stay locked. Kyle and the other kids must solve every clue and figure out every secret puzzle to find the hidden escape route!

Emily's Runaway Imagination by Beverly Cleary

A story set in rural Oregon in the 1920s about a fourth-grade girl who wants a library for her town, Pitchfork.

The Haunted Library by Dori Hillestad Butler

When ghost boy Kaz's haunt is torn down and he is separated from his ghost family, he meets a real girl named Claire, who lives above the town library with her parents and her grandmother. Claire has a special ability to see ghosts when other humans cannot and she and Kaz quickly form a friendship. The two join forces to solve the mystery of the ghost that's haunting the library. Could it be one of Kaz's lost family members?

Heidi Heckelbeck and the Lost Library Book by Wanda Coven

The Brewster Library has always been a magical place for kids in town. It has a story waiting for everyone. But imagine Heidi's surprise when Aunt Trudy lets her in on a well-kept secret: the Brewster Library has a real magic section! When Heidi checks out a title for a special project, she learns that you can't always judge a book by its cover. Especially when it's a bewitched book that loves to play pranks.

The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead

When a mysterious little free library (guarded by a large orange cat) appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change. Evan and his best friend Rafe quickly discover a link between one of the old books and a long-ago event that none of the grown-ups want to talk about. The two boys start asking questions whose answers will transform not only their own futures, but the town itself. Told in turn by a ghost librarian named Al, an aging (but beautiful) cat named Mortimer, and Evan himself, The Lost Library is a timeless story from award-winning authors Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass. It's about owning your truth, choosing the life you want, and the power of a good book (and, of course, the librarian who gave it to you).

Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol: The Scary Library Shusher by Andres Miedoso

It's no surprise that the library is one of Desmond Cole's favorite haunts. After all, it's a place full of books about werewolves, UFOs, and things that go bump in the night. But since Kersville isn't a normal town, why would it have a normal library? Especially when the undead are so well-read!

The Secret Library by Kekla Magloon

Travel through time with National Book Award Finalist Kekla Magoon in a page-turning fantasy adventure about family secrets and finding the courage to plot your own life story. Since Grandpa died, Dally's days are dull and restricted. She's eleven and a half years old, and her exacting single mother is already preparing her to take over the family business. Starved for adventure and release, Dally rescues a mysterious envelope from her mother's clutches, an envelope Grandpa had earmarked for her. The map she finds inside leads straight to an ancient vault, a library of secrets where each book is a portal to a precise moment in time. As Dally “checks out” adventure after adventure–including an exhilarating outing with pirates–she begins to dive deep into her family's hidden history. Soon she's visiting every day to escape the demands of the present. But the library has secrets of its own, intentions that would shape her life as surely as her mother's meticulous plans. What will Dally choose? Equal parts mystery and adventure–with a biracial child puzzling out her identity alongside the legacy of the past–this masterful middle-grade fantasy rivets with crackling prose, playful plot twists, and timeless themes. A satisfying choice for fans of Kindred and When You Reach Me.

The Story Collector by Kristen O'Donnell Tubb

In the tradition of E. L. Konisburg, Kristin O'Donnell Tubb's The Story Collector is a historical fiction middle-grade novel inspired by the real life of Viviani Joffre Fedeler, born and raised in the New York Public Library. Eleven-year-old Viviani Fedeler has spent her whole life in the New York Public Library. She knows every room by heart, except the ones her father keeps locked. When Viviani becomes convinced that the library is haunted, new girl Merit Mubarak makes fun of her. So Viviani decides to play a harmless little prank, roping her older brothers and best friend Eva to help out. But what begins as a joke quickly gets out of hand, and soon Viviani and her friends have to solve two big mysteries: Is the Library truly haunted? And what happened to the expensive new stamp collection? It's up to Viviani, Eva, and Merit (reluctantly) to find out.