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Summary
Summary
One very special morning Beverly Billingsly becomes a proud new card-carrying member of the Piedmont Public Library. But what happens when she forgets to return her book by its due date? Will Beverly ever be able to borrow another book?
Beverly and her favorite librarian, Mrs. Del Rubio, prove just how friendly a place the library can be. In his picture book debut, Alexander Stadler introduces an endearing character sure to delight readers of all ages.
Author Notes
ALEXANDER STADLER is a textile designer, author, and illustrator. Beverly Billingsly Borrows a Book is his first picture book. He lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
"This sympathetic tale of a budding bibliophile will be reassuring for those experiencing their first bittersweet taste of independence," according to PW. Ages 3-7. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Beverly Billingsly loves the dinosaur book she's checked out from the library so much that she forgets to return it on time. She worries that she'll have to pay a thousand dollar fine or go to jail and has nightmares about being eaten by a triceratops. The simple story is warm and comforting; the gouache illustrations with thick, bold outlines add character. From HORN BOOK Spring 2003, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Ages 4-7. Beverly Billingsly is excited when she gets her own library card. She borrows a book, Dinosaurs of the Cretaceous Period, which she loves so much she forgets to return it. One of her friends remarks that the library charges about $1,000 for an overdue book. A classmate says that people are put in jail for having an overdue book. Beverly panics, but a nightmare brings her mother into her room with reassuring words. The next day she returns the book and meets a new friend who also loves dinosaurs. This clever story celebrates the feelings of pride and happiness children often have when they get their own library cards. Stadler also humorously captures what happens when unrealistic information spreads (intentionally or not). The gouache-and-ink drawings, outlined in black, are simple in the extreme. Beverly is some sort of little gray animal, and all the characters look as though children could have drawn them. Libraries can always use another book celebrating libraries. Ilene Cooper.
School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-A tiny gray bear goes to the library every Tuesday, but this week is special. Today she gets her own card. She approaches the librarian, portrayed as a gangly green bird with orange hair and a large beak, gets her card, and looks for a book on dinosaurs. Once it is found, Beverly takes it to the desk and is reminded by Mrs. Del Rubio that it is due on April 7th. Woe is Beverly. April 7th comes and goes, and her book is now late. Her friends tell frightening tales of how she might end up in jail or have to pay a $1000 fine. In the youngster's nightmare, the librarian even morphs into a green triceratops promising to "gobble [her] up" if she doesn't return the book. Happily, when the overdue item is returned, Mrs. Del Rubio notices that it's only two days late and reminds her young borrower to "be more careful next time." There isn't even a fine to pay. Best of all, Beverly makes a new friend who also likes dinosaurs. In addition to the book's weak plot, this librarian is too stereotypical to be believable. She's gawky, bespectacled, and underautomated. As a result, it's unlikely that this title will be a favorite choice for storytimes, class visits, or other presentations. Done in gouache and ink, the illustrations are simple, flat, and purposely two-dimensional. They mimic a childish hand. They're acceptable accompaniments to the story and not overpowering. Unfortunately, the plot, with its central theme of fears and nightmares over an overdue book, is not engaging.-Roxanne Burg, Thousand Oaks Library, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Beverly (a little hippo) is sky-high when she gets her first library card. She's soon deliberating on the possibilities, finally choosing Dinosaurs of the Cretaceous Period. She is so smitten by the scholarly tome-"Beverly woke up early to finish the final chapter, Eating Habits of the Triceratops'. "-that she misses the return date by a day. When she asks a friend what might be the consequences for an overdue library book, the friend offers the opinion that a $1,000 fine may be forthcoming. Another friend notes that he thinks prison time is a common punishment for late books. This information, understandably, puts Beverly off her feed, which runs up a flag for her parents, who calm her fears and go with her on the dreaded return of the book. Troubles shared are troubles halved, or in this case, troubles sent packing, once they are shared with the right people. The librarian (a pointy-beaked bird lady) understands, and she points out another child (a rhinoceros) who is waiting for the return of the book. Beverly is as unpretentious as sensible shoes, as is newcomer Stadler, whose drawings are gently colored gouache, outlined in heavy, squiggly, black ink, giving them the heft of granite but the warmth of old brick. A refreshingly welcome new library story. (Picture book. 3-7)
