When Junior and his family are forced to move during the segregation era, he has to readjust to life and people around him. At the urging of his new school friends, he's shocked to find a library that he, a young Black boy, can actually explore! An entirely new world is opened up to him. It doesn't take long before he realizes that although he has this opportunity to read and grow, it's something that his father never had.

This book is a beautiful showcase of so many things: the love and care of a father providing for his family, the reciprocal and unconditional love of a son for his father, the resilience and strength of Black folks against systemic oppression (particularly in the segregated South), and the unmistakable power of knowledge, education, and libraries.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful story and illustrations that reminded me of an author I heard speak last year. She spoke about the importance of libraries and how originally her mother wasn't allowed to check out books from the library, because she was black.

Although it is a historical book, the story is timely with the defunding of libraries and the department of education.

This book is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. It's one that we would use to recommend for high-low readers, as it tells a lot about history while covering some mature topics. That's not me saying that this isn't for smaller children, because I think it's great, I just mean it's a fabulous example of a picture book being used to convey some themes that younger kiddos might not get.

Beautifully illustrated with a beautiful story - although a little overly wordy. Thoughtful and informative, especially as it pertains to showing kindness to those you may least expect need it.

Bold, expressive art brings depth and warmth to this powerful tale of literacy, community, and resistance. A must-read that honors the magic of books and the bravery of those who defend them.

The Library in the Woods is a beautiful story, set around 1959 during a time of horrible social injustice, told through the POV of a young African American boy as his family transitions from country to city living. The little boy notices many differences between his old home and new home, one being that people have books that they read for pleasure, not just for school. His new friends introduce him to the library in the woods, created by the African American community at a time when black individuals were not permitted in the public libraries, that contains more books than he has ever seen. He signs up for a library card and checks out his 3 first books - one for himself, one for his mother, and one for his father. This story touches on family sacrifice and support, importance of community, and discovering a love of reading for both young and old. It is also a beautifully illustrated, culturally diverse story. Overall a great read!

As a Little Free Library steward, advocate for libraries and book access, and mama to a biracial daughter, The Library in the Woods touched me and even brought me to tears.

Set in the late 1950s and told through the eyes of a young boy, it’s a beautiful, poignant reminder of how the Black community came together to create a space for learning and connection during a time of deep injustice. The idea of a log cabin library hidden in the woods — built when Black families were barred from public libraries — is heartbreaking and inspiring. The illustrations are gorgeous, and I loved the first-person narration from the little boy.

This is a wonderful book for families who value diverse stories and want to teach their kids about the power of community, resilience, and the joy of reading. I will absolutely pick this up for my daughter's bookshelf.