Books by Horseback: A Librarian’s Brave Journey to Deliver Books to Children

In rural Kentucky, Edith, a pale, freckled human with a red braid, is a packhorse librarian, who “travels for miles to deliver books” every day atop her trusty brown steed, Dan. Berne describes Edith’s journey to deliver books to one white family, the Caudills, employing plenty of sensory details that effectively convey the stakes (“Water splashes up onto Dan’s chest. Edith grips the book sack tight. If her books get wet, they’ll be ruined”). Urbinati contributes absorbing natural spreads awash with muted color, depicting dynamic characters in the ever-smiling Edith and lithe Dan. The book ends on a strangely tense note (“The creeks are going to be extra dangerous after the rain”), but the fictional narrative proves captivating as young readers learn the lengths real-life librarians went to serve their communities during the Great Depression. Back matter includes an author’s note and bibliography. Ages 4–8. (May)[em] [/em]