The New Libearian: A Magical Storytime Picture Book About a Bear in the Library for Children

by Alison Donald, Alex Willmore (Illustrator)

The magic of books and libraries is showcased in a sprightly picture book with a touch of fantasy. At story time, the children discover a bear at the librarian's desk, and they think he's the new librarian. But he's not!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Animals, Humor, Books About Books, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 28, 2016

Reviews

[La Coccinelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here we go with another problematic bear story...

This book was originally published in the UK, and it probably should've just stayed there. Perhaps I'm particularly sensitive to this because I live in western Canada, but every time I read a book about friendly, anthropomorphized bears interacting with humans, I get very uncomfortable. The last thing I want a book to be teaching kids is to follow bear tracks!

If you view it from the perspective of someone who lives in a country where they don't have to worry about wild bears, it would be a cute fantasy story about a bear who mysteriously turns up in a library, rips a few books to shreds, and growls a story at the kids. "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" ties into the plot, too, which is a neat touch.

However, I would really hesitate to give this book to a North American child. Those kids need to be learning how to be "bear aware". Like How to Catch a Bear Who Loves to Read, this book is just too problematic for certain audiences. I wouldn't recommend it unless the child lives somewhere without wild bears.

[Angelina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love checking out picture books about books and reading, but this one was underwhelming.

[Colona Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any book set in a Library is a book I want to read. It also includes a Bear, so that was another plus right there. I LOVED the illustrations. They were so colorful, kids will like it. The book is about a group of little kids waiting for the Librarian to read to them for Story time. When she doesn't show up, some of the kids go look for her. What they find is a Bear instead. The kids want him to read them a scary story. The bear sneaks off just as the Librarian shows up. She picks up the book
"Goldilocks and the Three Bears" only to find that the baby bear is missing from the book. The Librarian knows he is hiding and asks him to step back inside the book, so she can finish the story. Very Cute Read.

~April

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bears should not be default male, nor librarians default female (and "miss" no less!). And bears are getting smarter and less afraid of humans... we really need to help children learn to give them their space and not try to make friends with them. Even brushing off my concerns, it's just a so-so story with meh illustrations.

[Kathryn]

The New LiBEARian I'm guessing some kids will enjoy the "mystery" though others might find it a tad menacing and I thought it was all just a bit muddled and somewhat ho-hum.

[Helen White · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice children's book about a bear in a library. The librarian is fab

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of the book is that the librarian is late to storytime and a bear takes her place. It's a neat idea, but the ending is a little muddled.

[Stefanie Foard · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much cute, and the librarian kinda looks like me, so an extra star for that. ;)

But don't you ever call me a libarian. That word has two r's. For real. LOL.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I work in a library and I love children's picture books, so this was always going to be a winner for me.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: It was almost story time. The children were ready. Dee couldn't wait. "Isn't it time?" she asked. But no one answered.

Premise/plot: Ms. Merryweather, the children's librarian, is missing. Can the children follow the clues and solve the mystery? They may not discover Ms. Merryweather right away. But they do discover a NEW librarian. One who is willing to read them stories, but not just any stories--stories they're not allowed to read, SCARY stories. Will Ms. Merryweather return? Who is this new librarian?

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. The new librarian LOVES to read BEAR stories. Could their new librarian have escaped from a storybook?

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a tang of Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series, the librarian in this story has to deal with some unusual problems in her library. At first, I found everything simply sweet but nothing too out of the ordinary - three stars. But once the bear began conducting storytime it got a little more exciting - four stars - and then after the librarian appeared after fighting a volcano eruption, I was all in. Five stars.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love bears and I love libraries, and yet I did NOT like this book! The story really veers off course at the end, and even before that it feels weirdly padded before the bear is discovered. Strangely unlikable!

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely adorable book about a liBearian. The children are worried because the librarian is late for storytime, and they ask the bear librarian to do story time. It's very cute, and the ending was a fun surprise!

[Marissa Elera · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is fun! I expect a pretty strong reaction from storytime kids as they notice all the little details in the illustration and subtext and make connections.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious with great illustrations! Clever and fun and highly recommended for story time.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bookaday #62. Cute story, wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve been called liBEARian!

[Rachael Marsceau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable and refreshingly creative.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes I think a book is cute but the kids don't realize it's based off of Goldilocks and the three bears. So part of the humor I think is lost on them.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute picture book about a librarian who is late for story time, so a bear, or liBEARian, subs for her. Fun illustrations and a silly premise, so kids will love it.

[Albie Seymour · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was very funny and in the book when it’s story time they read Goldilocks and the three bears and Baby Bear and Goldilocks jump out of the story!

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable book! So cute!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A library story with a cute, metafictional fairy tale twist.

[Janet · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t like the illustrations and I didn’t like the theme of the story.

[Solange Vidal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una historia entretenida para niños pequeños que además los motiva a leer.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable story where reality and imagination hold hands with each other.

[Virginia, Second of Her Name, Mother of Bunnies · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a great book for a read-aloud. All the kid's names really interrupt the flow of the story. Also, the ending is a bit meta for younger readers.

[Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super cute story set in a library featuring a new liBEARian!

Perfect for anyone who loves books about books and / or fairytale retellings!

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Merryweather, the usual story time librarian, is no where to be found. Instead, an actual bear has taken her place. He tells a tale in his own inimitable way, and the children are enthralled.



A cute story . . . and, kids will be delighted when they discover where the new libearian came from!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I love this book. The pictures perfectly capture the magic that is libraries and stories in this tale of a missing librarian and her libearian replacement. Would be good for a library storytime, one on bears, or one with fractured fairy tales.

[K.J. Mecklenfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute. Made me think about a career change :-)