This is such a sweet book. A little boy loves his books and he likes them everywhere. He also likes it quiet at the library. He soon learns that there are other book related things going on in the library and it can't always be quiet, but it still can be full of books. He is not happy about this, but soon learns it might not be so bad. I can't wait to tell my school librarian about this book. She is going to love it.



Thank you to Astra Publishing House/Astra Young Readers, Laura Gehl, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I will post a review once the book is published.

This picture book follows a little boy who loves his library, but who also loves solitude and quiet. He gets impatient with other people at the library as they make noise and participate in library programs, but then he learns to accept them and begins making friends. The story felt overly didactic to me, but this will appeal to people looking for modern library books about the library as a diverse community space and not a sanctum of silence.

"Orson and the World's Loudest Library" is a picture book written by Laura Gehl and illustrated by Stephanie Roth Sisson. Orson loves reading and loves the quiet of his library, but lately the library has been louder. Little kids reading letter aloud, a child laughing at a graphic novel, and book groups discussing books are some of the offenders. When the librarian won't shush them, Orson takes things into his own hands. Unfortunately, now everyone is sad and no longer enjoying the library. I enjoyed the fact that Gehl shows the reality that most libraries are no longer completely silent and most librarians do not spend all their time shushing people. Sisson's illustrations are cute and funny. A recommended purchase for picture book collections.

Orson loves reading books in all his favorite quiet places, but finds that there are many not-so-quiet ways to enjoy and share reading in the library. I love that this book highlights that reading can be both a solitary and social endeavor. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to Astra Publishing House/Astra Young Readers, Laura Gehl, and NetGalley for this advance readying copy in exchange for my honest review.

I can’t wait to tell our librarian about this one because it jives with the “new” library atmosphere she is trying to promote after taking over for someone who felt libraries were supposed to be quiet places. It would make a good read aloud for library class to introduce them to expectations.

Such a sweet book! Our library is definitely not always quiet, especially when all of the kiddos are around. I can't imagine too many kids will be able to relate to Orson, though; maybe a handful and maybe an older group would be able to connect. That being said, I love any book that shows how fun the library can be! It can be a place for quiet time or a social meeting spot. I really liked how the group welcomed Orson back in once he realized he wanted to be a part of all the fun.

Orson is a sweet little boy who loves to read in all of his favorite places. One day when Orson goes to the library, there is also a large event taking place and there’s not much quiet to be found. I love the chances that this book gives to start conversations with our kiddos about expectations and how things can change. As a librarian, I face the battle often - many kids are expected to behave the same way their parents had to behave whenever they were kids. Things just aren’t the same anymore! Libraries are bumping community centers full of joy and excitement. We do not “shush” people, though if you would prefer a quieter space, we are happy to provide you with one. You just can’t force your own expectations onto others.
Love the illustrations! Love the concept and conversation surrounding it! LOVE Orson and so glad he loves the library!

Book 297 of 300 ~ 2024

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I'm with Orson on reading in silence. When I was younger, my concentration was much better, and noise didn't bother me.

I get the intent was how Orson deals with big emotions, apologises, and adapts.

I think Orson just needs a good pair of @loopearplugs because they have been a real game changer for my hubs and I. This would also mean a rather different ending, lol.

One star because it is about books and libraries.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Thank you to Netgalley for the free arc!

This is a really sweet book about helping a child get a new perspective of what a library can be for them. I love how the library is inclusive in a variety of ways. There are all different kinds of activities and well as reading rooms where people can have more quiet. There are all different kinds of people at the library-- people of different races, ages, and abilities (including a child who uses a wheelchair). This book will make a great addition to a library as a read aloud and to a children's at home library.

Orson is a little boy who loves the library but thinks it is supposed to be quiet all the time. In this story he learns they are different ways to enjoy the library and that sometimes it is okay to get a bit noisy. As a children's librarian, I love that this tells kids it is okay to get a little loud sometimes, share, and have fun in the library!

Such a great lesson for early readers! Books are made for enjoying both solo and in a group setting. I love how Orsen is able to grow his enjoyment for books through this lovely story.

This is such a great look at libraries and how they have grown and changed from just a quiet place to a community place.

A sweet look at learning to love and grow with the library.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

What a delightful read! It's the story of a book-loving boy who, initially, looks at the library as a quiet refuge where sound is kept to a minimum.
That image certainly changes as the book progresses. It turns out that libraries are described as quite a different place and Orson, the main character, experiences a positive 100% turnaround.

The author writes so sensitively and will appeal to those young library patrons who want to fit in and will find their niche. It is a hopeful and happy story. Loved it!

Orson and the World's Loudest Library is a wonderful picture book about a young boy who loves to read and discovers that his local library is not the quiet sanctuary he thought it would be. I think this book does a great job of showing all of the fun and LOUD activities that are often at public libraries and dispelling the notion that you have to be super quiet in a library. I liked that the librarian in the story showed Orson where the quiet reading room was, so that he could have quiet if he still wanted it. Overall, a fantastic story and a great way to get kiddos excited about libraries!

Thanks to NetGalley, Laura Gehl, and Astra Publishing House for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own!

We loved this book about Orson. Orson preferred quiet reading but then learns how to share his joy of reading with others at the library. This is a great book for book lovers to read to children.

Orson and the World's Loudest Library who initially thinks that libraries are meant to be quiet and only used for reading. After a series of events, he learns all the other things that libraries are for, including making friends! The story is sweet and the page count lends itself to being a solid bedtime story read.

Thanks to Astra and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

As a public librarian, this one is irresistible! Great illustrations and a cute story about all the different activities that take place at the library. Little Orson prefers to read quietly and has his favorite space (sensory issues, perhaps? could appeal to kids who identify with this!), so he finds some of the library hustle and bustle to be distracting. But there is a quiet place there, too, and when Orson looks out at the rest of the library from the quiet room, its piques his curiosity. He goes out to meet people and groups that he previously "shushed" - with lovely results. Great lessons! Thanks to NetGalley and Astra for the eARC!

This was a very cute read and I loved the illustrations. The message of books bringing people together is so cute. I am a little confused on the age range for this book though given the font size and amount of text on each page.

Thanks to NetGalley and Astra Publishing House for the ARC! 4 stars! I thought the illustrations were great. They enhanced the storyline to show exactly what the words are describing. The message behind the book for me was that the child was adapting to new things. He stepped outside of his comfort zone and learned how to adapt. I think the teacher in the story could have been more helpful to Orson. She could have given him ways to emotionally adapt instead of just explaining why a certain situation was the way it was. Overall, I think this is a good story! I would suggest to read to individual children who have a hard time with loudness and/or reading before a visit to a library.

Oh, Orson. I feel ya, kiddo.

Orson is a bright young boy who loves to read. But when the library, one of his favorite places, is suddenly crowded with people who aren't as quiet (or easily overstimulated) as him, he lets his emotions get the best of him. After trying to remedy the problem himself, he realizes that maybe there *is* a place for everybody in the library after all — whether they're quiet or not.

As libraries move from spaces with an expectation of silence to a more bustling pace (with inevitably more noise), there's an adjustment that can take some time. I love that this book is targeted for children who may have different expectations, and that it shows them how to compromise and look at things in a different perspective. Adorably illustrated and with a great message, this book is a perfect addition for any child's library.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.