9781499811735 (1)
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Books by Horseback: A Librarian’s Brave Journey to Deliver Books to Children

By Emma Carlson Berne, Illustrated by Ilaria Urbinati

$17.99 US / $23.99 CAN

Capturing one librarian’s breathtaking fictional journey is a riveting way to showcase and honor the risky work of these real librarians, and the text communicates a deep reverence for their mission-and their tremendous fortitude. Illustrations depict a pale, red-haired librarian, nearly always smiling despite the obstacles that nature puts in her path. Light and shadow are used effectively to convey Mother Earth’s shifting moods… Educational and inspiring.” –Kirkus Reviews

Books By Horseback is a breathtaking adventure of a heroic Pack Horse Librarian who braves the harsh terrain of rural Kentucky to bring books to children who need them.

Deep into Appalachia, during the Great Depression food, education, and opportunities were scarce. Kentucky had fallen behind its neighboring states in electricity and highways, and the folks who lived in the craggy, mountainous region were struggling to survive. But courageous librarians were up to the challenge!

Edith, a young Pack Horse Librarian, and her faithful horse Dan, adventure through rough terrain and a pending storm in order to deliver books to kids who desperately need them in this richly illustrated tale. Edith, like all Pack Horse Librarians, heroically risked their own safety to serve the most vulnerable members of their community. Librarians like Edith helped an entire generation learn to read and gain lifesaving knowledge in a critical time in history.

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Book Details

ISBN9781499811735
Page Count32
FormatHardcover
SubformatPicture Book
Age range4-8
Publication dateMay 04, 2021
Publication seasonSummer 2021

Author/Illustrator Bio

  • Emma Carlson Berne is the author of many books for young readers. With Appalachian roots going back several generations, she was glad to write about this unique part of history. Emma has worked on projects with Disney/Lucasfilm Press, American Girl Publishing, Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, National Geographic Kids, Lonely Planet Kids, and Sterling Publishing, among others. She was the 2018 writer-in-residence for the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. Emma lives with her family in Cincinnati, Ohio where she enjoys reading, horseback riding, and walking in the woods.
  • Ilaria Urbinati is an illustrator who lives in Italy in a nice city near the mountains called Turin. Like Beatrix Potter, subject of Saving the Countryside, she draws all the time with her computer and her watercolors (she loves them!), and she enjoys taking long walks in a nearby park. There, she meets squirrels and birds, and pets every dog and cat she comes across. She has no rabbit, but her dream is to live with a cat in a house full of books and paintings.

Product Description

Capturing one librarian’s breathtaking fictional journey is a riveting way to showcase and honor the risky work of these real librarians, and the text communicates a deep reverence for their mission-and their tremendous fortitude. Illustrations depict a pale, red-haired librarian, nearly always smiling despite the obstacles that nature puts in her path. Light and shadow are used effectively to convey Mother Earth’s shifting moods… Educational and inspiring.” –Kirkus Reviews

Books By Horseback is a breathtaking adventure of a heroic Pack Horse Librarian who braves the harsh terrain of rural Kentucky to bring books to children who need them.

Deep into Appalachia, during the Great Depression food, education, and opportunities were scarce. Kentucky had fallen behind its neighboring states in electricity and highways, and the folks who lived in the craggy, mountainous region were struggling to survive. But courageous librarians were up to the challenge!

Edith, a young Pack Horse Librarian, and her faithful horse Dan, adventure through rough terrain and a pending storm in order to deliver books to kids who desperately need them in this richly illustrated tale. Edith, like all Pack Horse Librarians, heroically risked their own safety to serve the most vulnerable members of their community. Librarians like Edith helped an entire generation learn to read and gain lifesaving knowledge in a critical time in history.