I wasn’t expecting a lot out of Lindsay Leslie’s So You Want to Build a Library. Honestly, I was expecting a so-so book and maybe a mention of Little Libraries. I was pleasantly surprised. This book isn’t just about building a physical library but about everything the library represents. The main character’s imagination goes wild while thinking about all of the amazing things which could go into a library.

This is a great picture books for young readers. It is inclusive, mentioning that the library is for everyone and that it includes all sorts of books. “Books for HER. Books for HIM. Books for THEM. Books for everyone and anyone – even giants!” Children with grown ups who absolutely love books will be giggling, as mine were when they began pointing at me at the beginning of the book, knowing just how much I adore books and reading. Book lovers with young kids should definitely check this out.

With thanks to NetGalley and Capstone for an early copy in return for an honest review.

I love books. I love libraries. So I definitely think this is a fun book for kids about books and libraries! I can see kids using their imaginations to dream up what they consider their ultimate dream library! The illustrations are fun and playful as the MC imagines a library with a waterslide, sundae bar, lots of ladders for reaching all the tall shelves, and more!

Well this was a delightful little surprise. What a wonderful book from Lindsay Leslie. The artwork is stunning and it would be a perfect storytime book at the library! There are so many fun activities you can do along with this story!

This book is an absolute standout. The story is super cute and adventurous, but what stands out the most to me about this book are the illustrations! The color palette is bright and beautifully cohesive. I also love the use of negative space: the illustrations are scaled inconsistently throughout the book, which adds to the sense of adventurous fun. Also, the casual use of they/them pronouns for inclusion of nonbinary folk made me so happy to see. This casual normalization of they/them pronouns that has been increasing in children's literature means to much to me. I will definitely be recommending this book to my librarian, and will likely use it for my reading tutoring program!

Wonderful book for young books lovers. So you want to build a library honors the passion and love kids have for books. Super cute story of a little girl who dreams of building her own library with all the must have that libraries need. Great illustrations and a fun read.

What a wonderful celebration of libraries and reading. As a library kid, I would have loved this book. I looked forward to going to the library in school and our town. This picture book has the reader come along to build a library and think about what you need to include.

A cute book about books and libraries with fun illustration for kids who already loves books and stories.

This was such a wonderful and playful book. My kids loved it as much as I did. We explored what it means to have a library and where all the books in a library can take you as well as what else makes a library really great - like a comfy chair.

A little girl imagines what type of library she would like to build in this uplifting picture book, with a text in second person: “So, what do you want to put in your library?” Her library includes the expected, practical things including books and comfy chairs, but unusual things too including dragons, bathtubs, and an ice cream sundae bar. The full color cartoon artwork adds punch, making this a great choice to read to a group visiting the library for a tour. The main character has dark brown hair and light brown skin but her race is not referenced; the other characters represent people of a variety of ethnicities as well as imaginary characters and animals.

As a parent to a 6 year old and 2 year old, my goal is to pass on my love of books and reading to my children. Therefore, I'm always interested in books that help with this goal! This book is definitely an adorable imaginative exercise, asking kids to follow along as a dream library is built with the help of a cast of fun and mythical creatures. It was very cute, and the bright illustrations definitely captured my kids' attention. I do wish that that there was more of story to it - since it lacked a narrative or a compelling character to really develop a relationship with throughout the book, I don't see if being a book that we would pick up and read again.

I loved everything about this about this story and so did my 6 year old nephew. A great book to have in any ece classrooms especially to promote reading

I adored this picture book!

This is such a fun book about a child building a fantastical library. I think this would be perfect for any child who loves reading or for a parent to read to a child that they are trying to encourage a love of reading in. It was very imaginative! There were so many fun characters (I especially loved the roller skater sloth and the baker snail) and settings depicted and I had a blast reading this, I also appreciated the inclusivity of mentioning them pronouns in addition to her and him.

The NetGalley site doesn’t allow .5 star ratings, but this was a 4.5/5 for me!

I enjoyed reading this picture book about building a library from a child's perspective.
Full of imaginations and bright, beautifully illustrated.

I’ve loved libraries for as long as I can remember. They provide access to books that you’re allowed to take home with you for free (!), whose pages allow you to explore infinite worlds, learn and escape from reality for a while. Any building whose primary purpose is to help facilitate reading is already a magical place, so what could possibly make it better? If a child had the opportunity to build the library of their dreams.

One young reader shows us how they would go about creating the “most MIRACULOUS library ever!” From the location to the types of books that would fill the shelves and the inclusion of pretty much everything you’d need so you’ll never have to leave, including a sundae bar and trampolines, this book encourages you to let your imagination go wild.

I loved the dragons and pie-baking snail but my favourite illustrations included the roller-skating sloth, who seemed to be having the time of their life.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Capstone Editions, an imprint of Capstone, for the opportunity to read this book.

So You Want to Build a Library is a super cute book with inventive, fantastical illustrations and ideas. The creativity in this picture book is wonderful and very entertaining for young book lovers. Perfect to get those imagination gears turning!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy.

While their wasn’t much of a “story” to this book, I think it will start conversations about imagination and creativity with your kids! This book is all about using your imagination, and it’s so fun!

This is a great book to start fun conversations with children that would let them exercise their creativity. Narratively, there wasn't much of a story, more like a list of things kids might enjoy, many of which aren't normally found in libraries. It was a cute book with fun illustrations.

Young children will love this whimsical, funny book about a little girl who builds her own perfect library from the ground up. Roller-skating sloths and teeny tiny fairies enjoy a library with a bathtub, a trampoline, and (of course!) a sundae bar, and everyone is rewarded with storytime at the end. I can't think of anything better, myself.

Teachers and especially librarians will enjoy this as a read-aloud, and it lends itself easily to follow-up activities in which children design their own libraries that celebrate imagination!

Thank you to NetGalley and Capstone for the advance reading copy in exchange for a fair review.

As someone who loves reading, teaching my son the love for books is high in my parenting handbook. He loved this book! It's an easy book to read for young children and the illustrations are amazing! Bright colors and perfect to explain the words.

It was a lovely read and my son loved it!!

What would you want if you were designing your own library? This cute picture book lets preschoolers build the library of their wildest dreams with adorable illustrations and easy to understand words. I read this with my five year old daughter and we both enjoyed reading this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion.