Julie Cummins

I love libraries. I've worked in libraries. But this dry, dull and outdated work probably wouldn't get a young reader excited about them.

Showcased here are a diverse selection of libraries, large and small, from across America. The dozen or so libraries include The Library of Congress with its millions of books as well as the one-room Ocracoke Library in North Carolina, which has 2000 books for the 650 residents. There are university libraries, a tool library, and a library for the blind, not to mention school and home libraries. Although the book is from the mid-90s, the fascinating descriptions are still very modern, and show more even include the internet. What makes the book even more interesting are the intriguing paintings by Roxie Munro of both the inside and outside of each library. This is one children's book I can look at over and over! show less

3.5 stars. Nothing truly outstanding, no behind-the-scenes (which I'd hoped for from the Inside bit of the title), and covering only the USA. But smoothly written, interesting and relatively thoroughly sharing about all kinds of libraries. No weird gimmicks, just the idea of first we see the Outside of a Library, then we examine & explore the Inside.

Before Amelia Earhart there was Ruth Elder— beauty queen, movie star, and aviatrix! This informational book details Ruth’s work to overcome 1920s stereotypes about women and pave the way for today’s female aviators.