How My Library Grew: by Dinah

by Martha Alexander

Neither Dinah nor her Teddy Bear have ever been to a library, but when one is built just down the street, she looks forward to the opening day.

Genres: Picture Books, Books About Books, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Born in Georgia, Martha attended the Cincinnati Academy of Art, and lived in many places, including New York, Alaska, and Washington state, before settling in Honolulu, Hawaii. She had two children, eight grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Reviews

[Darin Nordman · Rating 4 out of 5]

How My Library Grew By Dinah Written and Illustrated by Martha Alexander

This short story was consisted of explaining bits and pieces of architecture from a little girl’s point of view, and her desire to obtain her own personal library card to feel important, in which she gets to check out her own books on her own card. On each page, it demonstrates how Dinah explains to her stuffed bear, Teddy, what the construction workers are doing each day, as the reader can see in each illustration of them sitting outside watching the empty lot turn into a library. In this read, I enjoyed the moral of the story, in which in my opinion, was to enjoy what it was like to be in a library, to use a library and its resources, and appreciate what a library has to give.

I really enjoyed this book. It made me ask myself “Why don’t I ever go to the library?” This book opened my mind and allowed me to get lost in the aisle searching and skimming through all the books that intrigued me. I checked out two extra books along with the assigned 3 pictures books that is required of me. It made me laugh when I read some of the things Dinah shared to her readers, showing a bit of sass, and “cuteness” that is very well described of a young girl wanting to read and experience her own life inside a library.

[Cindy Sa · Rating 4 out of 5]

How My Library Grew
The painting style of this book is very simple. I think in this book, the most important thing was the process of waiting. And it is very suitable for the children who are in grade 1or 2. Because little children always focus on the pictures and they will not look more about words and meanings inside this book. But after they become older, they could focus on words more than pictures.
This book wrote a story about a little girl who called Dinah and her Teddy were waiting for a library which one was built near her house. One day, Dinah heard the noise of bulldozer. And she asked her parents about what happened near their house. Her parents told her, there was a library would be build near their house and it will have a noise. But Dinah was not like a normal being very hate about that noise. Otherwise, she looked forward to the library and she often asked her parents how many more days until the library’s finished. But her father told her, it would spend a long, long time. Maybe she would see it after Christmas. But she wanted to get in the library now. So, she moved her old and tall chair to look the library every day. She also made a picture book for the library. After a long time, the library was opened, she sent a gift for the library and she was very happy about that all day. She went inside the library to borrow some books. But she could not have a own library card and she just can use her mother’s card. She felt so terrible that she could not have her own card for the library. Thus, she asked her father to write down and teach her name. After several days, she could write her name and she went to the library to have her own library card. At the end of the story, Dinah read a bedtime story for her teddy. It is a warm sense in the night like a mom read a bedtime story for her little angles. So sweet.
From this book, I learned the patient and expectation. We need to look forward to the new things what will happen in our daily life. We should not feel any worries about that. After some times, maybe we could have a concept of doing things by an optimistic and positive way. And we would not think about the things so sadness.

[Brittany Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, Dinah is extremely curious to find out exactly what is happening at the library. Throughout the book she is always asking questions, always wanting to know more. Dinah reminds me of myself growing up, I remember always wanting to know everything that was going on. Dinah also reminds me of myself with her tenacious spirit. Once she finally goes to the library she is disappointed when the librarian tells her that she cannot get a library card because she can't write her name. Instead of accepting his answer, she goes home and practices continuously until she can do it perfectly. This is exactly how I was as a kid, never letting anyone tell me that I couldn't do something. Overall, I enjoyed this book, especially because I could relate to Dinah, because her character reminds me a lot of myself growing up.

[Jose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is about a little girl that is excited to see a new library being built near her house. Dinah, the girl in the story and her teddy bear watch the library construction daily. Dinah finds out later on when the library is going to open and decides to create a present for the library. When the library opens, she gives her present to the librarian. Dinah also begins to check out books from the library and when she learned how to write her name, she applied for a library card.

It's a good book for younger students that shows that good things (can) happen, if they wait.

[Shauna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was adorable. Im not sure if my students will be interested in it. The lesson i would use when reading this book is probably patience. In the book the main character Dinah finds out that they will be building a library across the street. I didnt really find any more lessons in this book. The illustrations were pencil drawn and were cute and easy to understand. There were many pictures on each page.

[Honah Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a story about a girl who watched as construction workers built a library next door. Through out the story she is very curious about everything around her, not only how the library is being built but also things like vegetable gardens, moles, and rainbows. In the end she learns how to write her name and is able to get her own library card to check out books to read to her teddy bear. I think this book would make kids interested in reading and going to explore their own library.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a simple story, told from the perspective of a little girl who watches a library as it is built across from her home. It continues on and shows how the little girl gets her first library card and checks out books. Our girls liked this story very much, as they just got their first library cards recently too and are experiencing the joys of checking out books on their own account.

[Tyrone Hardy · Rating 1 out of 5]

“How My Library Grew by Dinah” story and pictures by Martha Alexander is a book about a little girl watching a library being built. This story is just as boring as it sounds. There is rudimentary opportunity for counting, however, I would not recommend this to anyone. I didn’t even like the pictures. This book is AWFUL!!!

[Teri-mae Delay · Rating 5 out of 5]

"How My Library Grew" was very enjoyable. It was informational and imaginative. I felt it taught a very good lesson about patience and being independent. The main character, Dinah, patiently watched the local library being built, then learned how to write her name so she could have her very own library card. I highly suggest this book for children under the age of seven.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad...., I thought at first this was about Dinah's own personal book collection, but really it is about a library being built. We don't make people write their own name anymore though to get a library card.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dinah and her Bear, Teddy watch diligently as a library is being built right across the street from their house. It takes a while, but when it's completed, Dinah presents a special gift to the staff, and takes a few picture books home to read to Teddy

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

c1983...nice story for the time period

[Alice]

Construction, libraries

[Sarah Stumphf · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this would be more interesting for a 4, maybe 5 year old. My 2 year old didn't really understand most of the story, I think.

[Jocelyn Montalvo Cullum]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14093340