The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq

The illustrations are bright and beautiful. The story itself is just as intriguing. I was very inspired that this dedicated librarian, Alia Muhammad Baker, filled her home with books from the local library she worked at to protect them from aerial bombing in Iraq. She is a pillar of education, highly recommended!

This contemporary story about an Iraqi librarian rescuing 70% of the Basra Central Library's books speaks of both individual courage and the irreplaceable value of books. It's based on actual events: With Allied bombers approaching Basra in April 2003, chief librarian Alia Muhammad Baker asks the local government for permission to move the books. For reasons not explained to the reader, official deny her request, "so Alia takes matters into her own hands." At first, she drives small loads to her home, but when the bombing begins and the library staff flees, she adopts a larger plan to save the books. A network of friends and relatives (most notably neighboring merchant Anis Muhammad) race to hide 30,000 books in Muhammad's nearby restaurant: "'The books must be saved.' All through the night, Alia, Anis, his brothers, and shopkeepers and neighbors take the books from the library shelves, pass them over the seven-foot wall, and hide them in Anis' restaurant. The books stay hidden as the war rages on. Then, nine days later, a fire burns the library to the ground." As first reported by New York Times journalist Shaila K. Dewan, Baker and her friends waited out the bombs and then moved the thousands of books to the homes of friends, where, presumably, many of them still wait out the violence. An afterward explains that Alia Muhammad Baker suffered a stroke not long after and underwent heart surgery; she is "healing, and despite all, she is determined to see that the library is rebuilt." The story begins weakly, largely due to some rather conventional pictures that evoke Saturday morning TV shows. Smooth, Western-looking faces speak about the impending war ("Will planes with bombs fill the sky?"), but the multitude of talking heads seems flat. (Older readers might like M. A. Stamaty's 32-page "Alia's Mission : Saving the Books of Iraq" for a more detailed and realistic version of the story.) However, Winter's introduction of the librarian personalizes the story, and her increasingly authentic pictures add realism and a sense of urgency to the rescue. In several dramatic scenes, Winter's bombing planes fill the fiery night sky, tanks shoot long lines of gunfire, and citizens flee against silhouetted minarets, domes, and palm trees. No bloodshed is shown, but Winter convincingly and appropriately shows the ensuing devastation. (There's also a 4-page daydream sequence about a peaceful Iraq, beautifully illustrated with colorful colors and motifs.) The Iraqi people who participated in Baker's "underground" book relocation probably risked their lives to save the books, and I expect that their story will evoke emotion and strong emotions and passionate discussion.

This is an Excellent book for kids, it does so many things. It celeberates a true hero, it shows the kids the importance of books and it helps kids realize that there are ugly sides to war that other kids have to go through. I bought this book for my kids as well and they loved it.

"Alia Muhammad Baker is the librarian of Basra, a port city in the sand-swept country of Iraq." So begins this moving tale of one librarian's attempts to save the beloved books in her library as war threatens. When the governor of Basra refuses her request to move the books to a safe place, "Alia takes matters into her own hands." When the city is "lit with a firestorm of bombs and gunfire," Alia, with the help of her friends, manages to transfer thousands of books-some of them irreplaceable-to a nearby restaurant. Nine days later, the library burns to the ground. As the war moves inland and away, Alia is able to move the books once again-this time to her home and homes of friends. One double-page spread shows the inside of Alia's house: Books are everywhere: in cupboards; under the bed; stacked on stools. Until a new library can be built, "the books are safe-safe with the librarian of Basra." The story, a true one, was inspired by an article about the librarian's efforts which appeared in the New York Times in 2003. Jeanette Winter does an outstanding job. The tale is simply, yet powerfully told-at once both haunting and hopeful. The bold, colorful, acrylic and pen illustrations adroitly and accurately portray the people and place. An author's note is appended which informs us that not long after the library burned, "Alia suffered a stroke and had heart surgery. But she is healing, and despite all, she is determined to see that the library is rebuilt." Classroom Uses: We took this book into a 6 th-grade geography classroom that was studying the Middle East. The students had previously researched and discussed the restricted roles of women in some countries in the region. We read the book aloud. The students enjoyed the story and were clearly moved by it. They asked many questions. Several commented on the fact that Alia chose to stand up for something she believed in even though it was dangerous. As one student noted, "You don't have to be powerful to do powerful things." ( Ahh, the elusive, perfect "teachable moment.") If you are looking for quality children's literature that will generate thoughtful discussion, this is it. Highly recommended. District-wide purchase encouraged.

The Librarian of Basra By Jeannette Winter James H. This is a book about the war and how important books are to some people. Alia Muhammad Baker clearly loves her books more than anything in the world. Then she hears people talk about the war and how they think its coming to Basra. So then she starts moving some of the books to her house. Then the war comes and she needs to move the books somewhere. So she orders a moving truck to move all the books to her house and her friends houses as well. I think this is a good book with great illustration. This is a very realistic book and about how the war affects the people in iraq and how most of them are just like us. I suggest reading this book if you like real stories like this one.

I recently asked my seven year old granddaughter what her favorite school subject was and she immediately said, "Library, because there are so many books there and I love to read." A few days later I read the review of "The Librarian of Basra" in the Washington Post and decided this was the perfect book for her. I just read it myself today and can't wait to share it with Maria. I am also going to order a copy for her school library because I think it sends a double message - the importance of books in our lives and the terrible effects of war on everyone. Jeanette Winter's illustrations are beautiful. I would truly recommend this book to elementary school children.