For book lovers, the library is the best place in town. For young children who have never entered that space, the shelves seem endless, the stacks are tall, and they have no idea where to begin. These eight books comprise a love letter to libraries to help newcomers get their bearings. They're only a start.

Stacey’s Remarkable Books by Stacey Abrams. illus. by Kitt Thomas. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray. ISBN 9780063271852.
PreS-Gr 2–It’s a long road from being an awkward child to one of the most famous female Black political leaders in the U.S., but Abrams has not forgotten who she was as a child. Nor has she forgotten how books were her refuge. In this companion to Stacey’s Remarkable Words, Abrams and Thomas again team up to show us how words change lives.

The Library Fish Learns to Read by Alyssa Satin Capucilli. illus. by Gladys Jose. S. & S./Paula Wiseman. ISBN 9781534477070.
K-Gr 3–Library Fish’s bowl is located on the circulation desk of a busy public library. From this prominent location she can observe who is visiting and what is happening.

The Library Book by Gabby Dawnay. illus. by Ian Morris. Thames. ISBN 9780500652602.
PreS-Gr 1–A group of gleeful kids and their teacher visit a very special place—the library! The excitement is palpable as they imagine all the different kind of books awaiting them inside. All but one child, that is. Zach does not like to read at all. When asked if he will read, he offers an unequivocal “No!” and says that he would rather be at home watching TV. Before he knows it, he is lost in a book just as his friends are.

Grandpa and Jake by Julie Fortenberry. Illus. by author. Viking. ISBN 9780593404355.
PreS-Gr 2–In this picture book that celebrates libraries and sharing stories, a grandpa and grandson brown bear troop across a town on an outing crowded with animals en route to a surprise destination. Grandpa wants to get Jake out of the house and away from the TV. Jake’s excursion turns out to be his first ever trip to the library.

[Read: 17 Books to Help Get Kids Ready for Their First Flights]

Pinkalicious and the Pinkamazing Little Library by Victoria Kann. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780063257320.
PreS-Gr 1–This I Can Read will get emerging readers into the library to find more out about a favorite character.

Jeet and Fudge: The Loving Library by Amandeep S Kochar. Paw Prints. ISBN 9781518263002.
K-Gr 2–Jeet, a young Sikh boy, loves books and is just learning to read. Sometimes he gets frustrated when he can’t sound out a word on the first try, but his adorable little dog, Fudge, patiently stays with him until he figures it out.

This Is a Story by John Schu. illus. by Lauren Castillo. Candlewick. Mar. 2023. ISBN 9781536204520.
K-Gr 2–Castillo uses ink, watercolor, and pastel to create a beautiful and vibrant library setting that invites everyone into the spreads. Those in the know will have fun spying illustrated covers of actual picture books.

Dear Librarian by Lydia M Sigwarth. illus. by Romina Galotta. Farrar. ISBN 9780374313906.
PreS-Gr 3–The author tells the story of a difficult period in her family’s life. For her, a young white female narrator, finding a place she feels safe has been elusive. Her large family moves to a new state and stays with relatives while her father searches for a new job and a new home. One day, she and her family visit the public library, and she recognizes her special place.