Amy Adeney (text) and Erin McClean (illustrator), The Little Street Library, Affirm Press, June 2024, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781922863416
The Little Street Library is a picture book celebration of little neighbourhood depositories of books, known as “little street libraries”, and the communal connection and sharing that they foster.
When Rafi’s next-door neighbour, Leo, moves away, she misses his company and the stories that they enjoyed together. Then Rafi gets an idea to meet the other neighbours and share books with them, by installing a little street library in her front yard.
Author Adeney’s recount of the story is succinct, clear and engaging. I especially love the playfulness of her alliterations to describe the neighbours. To name a few – “Green-house-Greg put in a gardening manual” and “On-the-corner-Connie put in a cookbook”.
My three-year-old granddaughter enjoyed McClean’s illustrations as much as I did. From pages filled with imagined storybook scenarios, to detailed streetscapes and domestic scenes in a spectrum of soft colours, to the busy activity of friendly neighbours engaging warmly with each other – the illustrations are a delight. They also importantly add the context of the physical environment and develop the story’s characters.
The Little Street Library has a hopeful message that community togetherness and the enjoyment of books and stories can bring comfort from an upsetting situation. Target age group is 3- 7 years old.
Reviewed by Barbara Swartz
Read Heather Gallaher’s review here.
