Common Sense Media Review
By Jan Carr
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Little-girl librarian helps animal friends in sweet story.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
A little-girl librarian and her three owl helpers assist other animals in THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY, which is open only from "midnight to dawn." When the squirrel band plays loudly, they're ushered into the activity room. When a wolf is discovered crying in the stacks, they encourage her to keep reading until the happy ending. When a turtle still has 500 pages to read, they issue him a library card so he can finish his book at home. And, when the sun comes up, the little librarian reads a last, bedtime story to her now-very-sleepy owl assistants.
Is It Any Good?
Both the illustrations and the story in The Midnight Library are full of charm. The bold, blocky art is strikingly eye-catching. The little-girl librarian is charmingly pigtailed. The animals who visit the library all are pictured with their snouts in their books, engrossed in their reading. And, since the story ends with the little librarian reading her owl assistants a bedtime story, it's perfect for bedtime or naptime.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about libraries. What are the different things we can do there? Have you noticed different rooms or areas? What can you do in the activity room? How should you act in the reading room?
Do you like happy books or sad books, or both? What are your favorite types of books?
Do you have a library card? Do you want one? How do you get one? What can you do with it?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Kazuno Kohara
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Roaring Brook Press
- Publication date : June 17, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 3 - 6
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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