Beautifully illustrated with a beautiful story - although a little overly wordy. Thoughtful and informative, especially as it pertains to showing kindness to those you may least expect need it.

Bold, expressive art brings depth and warmth to this powerful tale of literacy, community, and resistance. A must-read that honors the magic of books and the bravery of those who defend them.

The Library in the Woods is a beautiful story, set around 1959 during a time of horrible social injustice, told through the POV of a young African American boy as his family transitions from country to city living. The little boy notices many differences between his old home and new home, one being that people have books that they read for pleasure, not just for school. His new friends introduce him to the library in the woods, created by the African American community at a time when black individuals were not permitted in the public libraries, that contains more books than he has ever seen. He signs up for a library card and checks out his 3 first books - one for himself, one for his mother, and one for his father. This story touches on family sacrifice and support, importance of community, and discovering a love of reading for both young and old. It is also a beautifully illustrated, culturally diverse story. Overall a great read!

As a Little Free Library steward, advocate for libraries and book access, and mama to a biracial daughter, The Library in the Woods touched me and even brought me to tears.

Set in the late 1950s and told through the eyes of a young boy, it’s a beautiful, poignant reminder of how the Black community came together to create a space for learning and connection during a time of deep injustice. The idea of a log cabin library hidden in the woods — built when Black families were barred from public libraries — is heartbreaking and inspiring. The illustrations are gorgeous, and I loved the first-person narration from the little boy.

This is a wonderful book for families who value diverse stories and want to teach their kids about the power of community, resilience, and the joy of reading. I will absolutely pick this up for my daughter's bookshelf.