The influential School Library Journal (SLJ) has given This Is a Library Book a starred review, recommending that every library put it on its bookshelves. The review appears in the September edition of SLJ magazine.

“A true love letter to all things library, this should be in every collection.”

★ Grant, Joyce. This Is a Library Book: Check Out the Places and People ­Sharing Knowledge and Building Communities. illus. by Chanelle Nibbelink. 48p. Kids Can. Oct. 2026. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781525311567.

Gr 4-7–Those who work with books and libraries understand their value and the many roles they play. This title aims to inspire the same appreciation in readers of all ages. The book begins with some history: The Great Library of Alexandria, the first library in the US in New Hampshire in 1833, and even a library that won’t be ready until trees have grown in Norway in 2114. The text emphasizes that they can be anywhere, citing examples like an underground secret library in Syria, the library at Auschwitz, and the Little Queer Library that helps distribute LGBTQIA+ materials. Also highlighted are the many things available to borrow beyond books, like a space to work or research, tools, or puzzles and games; a few libraries in New Zealand have even started a stick collection for dogs. It also introduces digital collections like Project Gutenberg and Minecraft’s Uncensored Library, which provide access to older and banned materials. Grant encourages readers to take advantage of everything libraries have to offer. Even longtime library users and advocates who have spent a lifetime among the stacks may discover something new in these pages. VERDICT A true love letter to all things library, this should be in every collection.–Adam Fisher