I am still new to the audiobook world, so this was my first time listening to a children's book via audio and I loved it. While I definitely missed the pictures that would go along with the story, it was fun to hear a narrator give life to this story and reminded me of when I had a book read to me by all of the adults in my life.

The story itself was about a serious subject, but was presented in such a way that can be obtained my a child. I loved how this author put together this story and I could tell she chose her words carefully to create the story.

This is a book I will have to buy a copy for my nieces and nephews to have on their shelf.

This was a short and interesting true story of how the author’s grandparents found love while interned by the US government.

I found that I wanted more out for the story itself. There wasn’t really an arc, so when it got to the end, it was just the end. I also found the sound effects & music throughout the audiobook a bit distracting.

However, I felt that the author’s note at the end was actually the best part of the book. It highlighted both the injustice that was done but also the human capacity for love and hope. Something specific the author noted was that though her grandparents met at the internment camp, it didn’t make it “worth it”. I think that’s really important to remember as the painful history and a joy within a family can be independent.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Maggie Tokuda-Hall-Hall for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was so short and sweet, with a message. The audiobook that I listened to was only 14 minutes long, and I enjoyed every second. It is the story of Tama, a Japanese-American put away in a camp after the Pearl Harbor incident. She works as a library assistant, where she meets her future husband, George. The story, is a real one, told to the world by Tama and George's granddaughter- Maggie. As she wrote in the author's note, the story was written on the basis of her grandmother's diary entry, and all the conversations were imagined. The writing was simple and easy to understand, perfect for children, and even teens. I loved the narration too, the voices and sounds were memorable. The story was obviously brilliant, but I found special value in the author's note, that discussed this issue from her perspective. To sum up, this is a great book/audiobook, reminding children of an important chapter in the world's history, with the lesson we learn from it.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Tama is sent to live in Minidoka, a War Relocation Center in the desert. Tama's whole life is up in the air now that she and countless other Japanese Americans have been "relocated". While struggling to adjust, Tama meets George at the library where she has recently begun to work.

This is a very short story about finding love and hope in a really bleak time in history. It is also lovingly written by the main characters' granddaughter. I found myself wanting to know more about George and Tama and I really enjoyed the author's personal notes and perspective at the end. As for the audio book, I enjoyed the narrator and as someone who is usually easily bothered by music in audiobooks, I actually found the music selection relaxing and unobtrusive.

Love In the Library is a beautiful story about a couple finding love in an incredibly bleak place. Tama and George, Japanese-Americans in the 1940s, are sent to an internment camp in Idaho. There they meet and find love and hope despite their cruel environment. Based on the story of the meeting of the author’s grandparents, this poetically-written story will give children an idea if what it was like and the dark history of our country. Following the brief story the history is explained in more detail. 120,000 Japanese-Americans were interned during WWII and lawful bigotry continues in different iterations. The narration was wonderful and this would be a wonderful tool to use in the classroom to educate children.

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for providing this audiobook ARC.

Cute short story. Do wish there was a longer book because it I was interested in learning more. Enjoyed the narrator.

Set in the Japanese interment camp of Minidoka, Tama works in the library to give her life purpose while she and other Japanese-Americans like her are locked away from their freedom. Together with George, Tama escapes the confines of the internment camp boundaries through the miraculous power of the books of the library. Background music and sounds enrich the narrators reading of this budding romance. Though classified as fiction, this story is based on the author's grandparents' histories. Authors note at the end summarizes the incarceration of Japanese-American citizens after the attack on Pearl Harbor. An inspirational story of overcoming racism and discrimination. I deducted a star for the author's note that "hate is an American tradition"; it is a learned behavior that all humans are susceptible to no matter the citizenship.

What a sweet and warm little story that happened during a sad and tragic time in history. In the small camp library, two young people spend time together among the stacks. They escape into books and build a relationship, a flower that grows out of the darkness. A beautiful and empowering story that tells us that people can overcome things, I really enjoyed Love in the Library. The Author's note was simple, lovely, and beautiful. I'd love to see more illustrations, as the cover art is eye-catching and sweet!

Listened to the audio version of Love in the Library; loosely based on the meeting of the authors grandparents in the library of an American encampment for Japanese Americans at the end of WWII.

Very short, only 15 minutes, but very sweet and enjoyable.

The cover of the book indicates that the book is illustrated; after listening to the audio version, I would love to see the illustrated version and will pursue that once released.

The combination of audio and illustrated would be a great addition for young readers so that they can follow along as they are learning to read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Maggie Tokuda-Hall the author, Sura Siu the narrator and Dreamscape Media the publisher for the opportunity to review the advance listen copy of the audio in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is expected to be Jan 11, 2022.

I discovered this audiobook on NetGalley when browsing for an audiobook to try out. As a librarian, the title caught my eye. And, then, when reading the description, I was totally sold on trying it out since I have a personal connection to stories about Japanese American incarceration/internment during World War II since my grandparents and great-grandparents were all sent away to the campus. I didn't realize at first that this was a picture book, but the audio version was very moving. Now I'm just curious to check out the illustrations, as well. In terms of the story, it brought tears to my eyes. Perhaps the audio version was even more effective since there was more suspense about what the next words would be. I found myself waiting to hear what the "one word" would be revealed to be, whereas if I were reading the physical copy, my eye would have seen it right away. The author's note was also very powerful, and it adds a lot to the story - it's an integral part of the book, contextualizing it well for readers. It was also interesting to me to learn about what parts the author was able to base the story on, the idea that the one quote came from her grandmother's journal really struck me since I have also been learning about my family's past in bits and pieces based on papers that we happen across, little scraps on the past that shed light on their lives. I am excited to share this book with others, particularly families in my Japanese American community (although also beyond!) since I know that they will really love this, as well.

The audio is very nice and the after note by the author is excellent. Unfortunately it also tells more story than the actual story does.

I think this is a book that was created as a picture book and needs to be a picture book. The cover illustration is lovely. I would like to flip through the paper book.

As an audiobook, I wouldn't recommend it.

I was given an advance audiobook in exchange for an honest review. This is a must read for students to know their country’s embarrassing history. Immediately after Pearl Harbor, the U.S..Government in a knee jerk decision, decided to gather all west coast Americans with a Japanese heritage they gathered the very oldest as well as everyone in between and the babies. No one was allowed to take much with them maybe a few pictures and a few mementos were all they could take. They were sent directly to a War Relocation Camp like this one set up in the desert. They were not allowed to go outside the camp. Tama, her grandmother was forced to quit her job and now found herself in charge of the mini librar which she new nothing about running a lirarythe camp because she had the key and would open every morning and close every night Tama found comfort in the books, their brightness. Grandpa George was always her first customer following Tama in carrying the armful of books he had checked out the previous day.. Tama finally figured out he couldn’t have read all those books the previous day. He must be coming just to see her. The would go on to marry and start theirfamily within the camp. Theyhad a love that would live a lifetime. It is probably a little much for young children to absorb.the audiobook on lets about fifteen minutes but covers a quite a bit of information. Many thanks to #NetGalley, #DreamscapeMedia and #MaggiTokuda-Hall for the opportunity to get an early audiobook to enjoy..my only complaint is that it is too short. I would like to know more. When were they allowed to leave. Where did they find employment and where did they move.?

Short, sweet to the point. I could certainly see adding this to many of the units I teach in both middle and high school. But, only if I could get a print copy.
The story is thin, but combined with the authors note at the end, I think it could open up a lot of good discussions.
I listened to the audiobook and found the background music very distracting. It actually made listening stressful for me. That, combined with the narrator’s overly soft, almost whispery voice made the audiobook a disappointment, but I would certainly consider the print edition.
Thank you to Dreamscape and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest opinions.

This was a sad but uplifting story set in the Japanese internment camps. The audio narration was perfect, and this review doesn’t factor in the illustration element. The language was rather advanced, as are the concepts, but this would be a good choice to read with older kids to continue the discussion about anti-racism and true American history.