Welcome to Library Lions Roar! Celebrating libraries and the outstanding librarians serving youth in schools and public libraries across the U.S. Author, Kathryn O. Galbraith, joins us this month to Roar for Libraries.

Hello from the green, rainy, watery state of Washington. I write picture books, nonfiction, middle-grade novels, short chapter books and now my first I-Can-Read, Sparky & Tidbit.

When I published my first book, Spots Are Special, I made a wish that before I grew old, I wanted to write and publish 25 books. Years later, I have almost, almost met that goal with eighteen books published and four more under contract. Of course, I have now changed my goal to 50 books before I get too old to write them

Author’s Roar
We must gather around and support our libraries. Why? Because libraries contain the world’s wisdom from the past and the present and offers explorations into the future. Books open our minds and hearts to other people and beliefs all around the world. What could be more important, more central to our growth as human beings than that.

A writer/librarian friend, George Shannon, sharing Two Bunny Buddies with his class.

Look at all those thumbs up! WOW!

A Lion’s Pride of Programs
My library is like other people’s Starbucks but more important. I belong to two great library systems–Pierce County Library and the Tacoma Public Library – and I drop into both at least twice a week. I use them for research as I did when I was working on Planting the Wild Garden and Where is Baby?

 

When I was writing short chapters books, I gather up as much of them as I can carry to read and study. I also visit the libraries for the delicious pleasure of settling down in a quiet place and dipping in the books on the new book shelves.

Library Love When You Were a Cub
Miss Jane, our public librarian in my small Michigan town, is the reason I became a children’s librarian and later a children’s book author.

Miss Jane was very tall with red hair, red lipstick, red nails and she knew almost everything! The few things she didn’t know, she always knew where to look to find the answers. She loved books and talking about books. Books were important. I don’t wear red lipstick or red polish and my hair is only a little bit red, but Miss Jane was right. Books are important.

More Library Love
One of my furriest experiences at the library was watching a shy little boy read to a mellow golden retriever. I’d heard about Reading to Rover programs and was delighted to see the program in {quiet!}action. Out of that experience came my first I-Can-Read novel, Sparky & Tidbit.

Sparky is an older dog who helps young Tidbit learn to read. How? By encouraging Tidbit to practice reading out loud. And by Sparky practicing how to listen. As Tidbit reads, Sparky never wiggles. Or waggles. Or scratches his ears. He never yawns when Tidbit is slow. Never barks if Tidbit messes up. And never, ever growls.

I recently served for three years on the Pierce County Library Foundation board. What a great learning experience for me! I was continually amazed at the outreach projects the librarians developed and sustained for young readers. Here are a few of their most popular: Summer reading programs (this year’s theme is Build a Better World), Block Play, Story Hour, Baby Books to Go (packets of reading materials for parents and caregivers for babies from birth to three years old) and for some child care centers and children in low-income neighborhoods, Pierce County Library takes Summer Reading on the road with books, movies, and audiobooks.

For their great service and enthusiasm for reaching children of all ages with books and ideas, I’d like to give a huge ROAR to every single one of the Pierce County Librarians in Washington State. Take a bow!

Library Lions Link
website: KathrynOGalbraith

Thank you, Kathryn for sharing your books and your library love with us.

Note to Librarians: If you’re a Youth Librarian working in a school or public library we’d love to hear about you and your library. Email Janet via the Contact page on this website to set up an interview.

Note to Authors: If you’re interested in Roaring for Libraries on this blog, contact Janet.