This book was breathtakingly beautiful. This gave me flashbacks to children books with beautiful black artwork that my parents would buy me.

Most find history dull and boring, even in the childrens books. This book was beautifully done and gave a little picture into what life was like back then. I had no idea of these libraries set back in the woods back then. An interesting part of history that is hidden away, yet shoudl be brought to the forefront. What really got me was mom gently helping her son through a teaching moment with his father. Who knew that you could find family moments anywhere?

This was an emotional read based on true events. It informs readers how people have to demonstrate compassion towards others who may not have the same skills as them. It also informs readers how education is viewed in different families (work came first before education). This book hit home for me. The artwork was wonderful. Highly recommend.

The Library in the Woods will surely become a valued and cherished literary accomplishment in the children's picture book world. Readers will love the folk art-style illustrations and the ability to immerse themselves into the world of this delightful main character as he emerges from a world living on a rural farm to living in a bustling city where he has the ability to have adventures with his friends every day. This children's book is a literary tribute to an iconic library, and it appears to have illuminated this library is splendid ways through the illustrations and detailed narrative.

The Library in the Woods will be a wonderful addition for any classroom library and in any library's children's department. Teachers will love reading the story aloud to classes filled with eager to learn children.

This book was wonderful. I think it'd be a great one to have in schools for sure. I like how it shows how a love of reading can bring people together whether they are able to read or not. Additionally, I appreciate the history given in the book; it states in the back that it takes from a real story lived by the author and I think that was interesting to learn about.

Oh my goodness, this book touched my heart strings! First, it was set in the year my mom was born, in a town a few hours from where I lived for 17 years (and where my husband was born and raised), and it was about one of my favorite places--the library!

In a time when segregation and Jim Crow kept the black community apart from so many resources, the community took care of its own. <3

This picture book uses captivating illustrations with a unique art styling (created by a Caldecott award winning illustrator) to share the story of a young farm boy whose family moves to the city in order to survive better. In the city, his friends share with him the wonder of the library in the woods, specifically run by a black librarian for the black community.

Junior's (the boy) wonder of the world that library holds stole my heart! Then he runs to share this new discovery with his parents---but what will happen when he learns that his own father, like many black people in the time, doesn't know how to read?

This story includes education about the difficulty of the time, the emphasis of the power of reading & books, and a showing of compassion and love within families.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and the author for sending me the free ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

.This book defies genre as it reads like narrative nonfiction, memoir and picture book. In addition to an under represented topic of segregation and library history, the illustrations create beautiful paintings on their own. The additional information and personal connection that the author shares to the fictional story definitely enhances the story and offers teachers, students, and librarians ways to discuss or research a further.

Thank you to Lerner Publishing Group, Carolrhoda Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this title to read and review. This is a gorgeous book about the power of reading and the discovery of libraries, set in the segregated south. The back matter about the author's own library was really wonderful for further, in-depth reading about the inspirations for the story and the realities of this time. I think readers of any age would enjoy this book and get a rich experience out of it, because that moment of discovering a library full of adventures and imagination is powerful to any age, but the historical themes, and geographical and racial elements would be important and received by older kids and adult readers.

The year is 1959, and in rural North Carolina, Junior and his family are forced to move to town after a storm devastates their farm. As Junior adjusts to the differences between country and city life, he discovers one great joy of his new home: a small library which provides books for his family and the other black residents in town. Junior quickly discovers the joy of reading and, in the books final and most touching scenes, reads aloud to his father who never had the opportunity to learn to read.

This is a masterful picture book, filled with tiny, rich details which really help sell the emotional core of the story. These details, like Junior adjusting to wearing shoes after moving to town, really ground the narrative and make it feel real--which makes Junior's discovery of his father's illiteracy and his conversation with his mother about it all the more affecting. It all smacks of true, lived experience.

I would recommend this book very broadly to families, children, and adults. I think there is something for everyone to take away from it.

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.

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.

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.

Such a cute and some what emotional story. Both a little sad and happy. It shows how change may be hard but good can come from it. And even parents need help from their kids at times.

Powerful in its simplicity.

While based on the author's own memories, this book speaks to us all. The illustrations are also strong in their stark simplicity, conveying first the isolation and devastation after a hard hail storm, then the magic of friendships and of the library in the woods. Segregation denied access to libraries to Black Americans. The library opens up a whole new world of possibilities to Junior, the young main character. In the process, he grows closer to his father through the power of words.

I won't belabor this review as the book stands wonderfully strong on its own. Make sure you read the Author's Note at the end as it fills in some spaces that adults might wonder about. Children, too, for that matter. Readers can learn that change can bring turmoil but also good things and growth, too. I want to thank #LernerPublishingGroup for allowing me an early look at this book. As an avid reader from the time I could hold up a book -- lucky me, my family were readers -- I cannot imagine a life without books and can fully appreciate how much this tiny cabin in the woods full of books meant to those who were denied access.

Lovely story of a young boy who shares his love for reading with his family.
Set during segregation, this story is important to share with young readers to help navigate the difficult times in our past and see moments of hope in the midst of those times.

📚✨ The Library in the Woods by Calvin Alexander Ramsey – A Radiant Ode to Resilience, Literacy, and Hidden Magic ✨📚

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 Stars)
A luminous tapestry of history, heart, and the transformative power of books—this story doesn’t just speak to readers; it sings.

🌳 Highlights:
- A log cabin library becomes a sanctuary of dreams in this tender, triumphant tale.
- Ramsey’s prose is a love letter to libraries, stitching together segregation’s harsh truths with threads of hope.
- The revelation of Junior’s father’s illiteracy is a quiet earthquake—devastating, yet softened by the grace of shared storytelling.
- Illustrations by R. Gregory Christie breathe fire into every page, turning history into a living, whispering thing.
- A secret library in the woods? This is the stuff of childhood legends—except it was real, and that makes it all the more extraordinary.

👧🧒 Who Will Love This Book?
-Young historians (8–12) curious about untold stories of the segregated South.
-Bookworms who believe libraries are portals to other worlds.
-Families seeking read-aloud stories with layers of discussion (illiteracy, resilience, community).
-Teachers crafting units on Black history, oral storytelling, or rural life.
-Art lovers dazzled by Christie’s evocative, award-winning illustrations.

🚫 Who Might Not?
-Readers seeking fast-paced plots—this is a lyrical, character-driven journey.
-Those uncomfortable with historical tensions (gentle but honest depictions of segregation).
-Very young children (some themes require emotional maturity).

The Backstory: A Library in the Woods: A Story of Hope, Secrets, and the Magic of Books

The year was 1959 when the storm tore through the farm, leaving Junior’s family with little more than the clothes on their backs. At nine years old, he didn’t fully understand why they had to leave—only that the land they had worked wasn’t theirs to keep. So they packed what they could and moved to Roxboro, North Carolina, a small town where the rules of the segregated South shaped every part of life.

Adjusting wasn’t easy. The stares, the whispers, the signs that said White Only—it all felt heavy, like a weight pressing down on his chest. But then, a glimmer of light: new friends told him about a special place hidden in the woods. Not a school, not a church, but a library. Just for them.

Junior had never seen anything like it—a log cabin, warm and welcoming, filled with books that smelled of worn pages and shared stories. The librarian, Mrs. Barnette, knew just what to hand him, her eyes lighting up as she pulled down adventure tales, books about animals, poetry that sang in his mind long after he read it. Here, in this quiet refuge, the world felt bigger. Kinder. Full of possibilities.

But the books held more than just stories. Between their pages, Junior uncovered a secret about his father—one that changed the way he saw his family, his past, and himself.

This story is fiction, but the heart of it is real. Like Junior, author Calvin Alexander Ramsey grew up visiting this very library, a sanctuary built during segregation but filled with pride, community, and the quiet defiance of knowledge. The books he borrowed—dog-eared and well-loved—were proof that he wasn’t alone. Others had turned these same pages, dreamed these same dreams.

For Ramsey, writing this book is more than just telling a story. It’s an act of love—for his brother Junior, who stayed up late laughing over books; for Mrs. Barnette, who believed in the power of a well-chosen story; and for every child who ever walked into that library and left with a book—and with hope.

Because in a world that tried to tell them no, the library whispered yes.

And sometimes, that’s enough to change everything.

🌿 Final Notes
The Library in the Woods is more than a book—it’s a time capsule, a bridge between generations, and a reminder that “second-best” spaces can hold first-rate magic. Ramsey’s childhood memories, woven into fiction, glow with authenticity.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author, Calvin Alexander Ramsey, for the advance review copy. This story is a gift.

Some libraries are built with bricks; this one was built with heartbeats.

“Library in the Woods” is a touching story based on the author’s real life experience using a library when he was growing up. During the time of segregation, non-white people were not permitted into the city libraries to use the facilities or even browse the books. This book touches on several issues, including adult illiteracy, segregation, and the importance of reading. This story is very touching, and because of the issues it touches on this book can be shared during Black History Month and Library appreciation week.

The illustrations are classy and realistic while still just whimsy enough to remind the reader this isn’t entirely fiction. I appreciated how realistic the illustrations were because it served as a great reminder that similar situations did indeed happen in real life to real people.

Books written about libraries are so important! And they remind us why reading is such a treasure. This is one such book that can easily transcend being a read aloud and drive that point home.

This book was very interesting and unique! The main thing I appreciated about this book was how many ideas/topics were packed into one story. There's a big move, history, kindness/compassion, exploration, and inspiration all wrapped into this one book. This is very impressive because I understood and followed the author's train of thought the entire time I read, and nothing got confusing or lost. Another thing that allowed this book to be cohesive and well-rounded was the plot style. The author had a clear idea and made a complete and structured story with it, with a beginning, middle, and end. This book was also not too long or short. Lastly, the illustrations had a distinct style to them, and the tone of the visuals flawlessly matched the story being told. Bravo!!

A wonderful story! It brought tears to my eyes and offered an incredibly insightful window into the lives of African American families in Roxboro during the segregation times. Deeply moving and beautifully written, this book is both emotional and educational. I would highly recommend it to everyone! The illustrations are magical! I spent a lot of time looking at them on each page!

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC

The Library in the Woods is a reflective look at the past while giving an excellent example of the power of reading. Through hardship and change, Junior is shown a light in the darkness at the neighborhood library. This book will spark many meaningful conversations about history and hope. And the illustrations are beautiful.

A beautiful, rich story of family, love, literacy, and the era of segregation, this book should be read by children and adults. I couldn't get over the fact that this book was based on the author's town and rural library, and really appreciated the afterword that told more about his childhood, rural life, and the various kinds of intelligence that don't rely on reading.

I think this is so important because it captures the power that reading has, and the importance of libraries. I highly recommend this book for schools and libraries.

It was in the latter 20th century in farm country in the segregated South of the US when the farmers crops let him down again and he had to move his family to town. The boy loved to read, couldn't afford to buy books, and was restricted from the "whites only" library. Some good friends showed him where there was a Library In The Woods where Black people could go to borrow books and a son could bring them home to read to his father.
The illustrations by artist R. Gregory Christie are imaginative and reinforce the story in simple art and comforting colors.
Well suited for reading alone or WITH someone of any age, including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school, waiting room, or your local public library!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital Galley on Thorium PDF from Lerner Publishing Group | Carolrhoda Books ® via NetGalley. Pub Date Aug 05, 2025
#TheLibraryintheWoods by @calvinalexanderramseysr1 and @rgregorychristie @lernerbooks #carolrhodabooks #AmericanHistory #BlackHistory #LibrariesAndCulture #HistoryMatters #LibrariesMatter #ReadingIsFUNdamental #NoBannedBooks @literacyforall_ #illustrated
#childrensbooks #imagination #rurallibraries @littlefreelibrary #ruralilliteracy

The Library in the Woods is a wonderful read. The illustrations make me feel like I'm standing inside inside a painting. The story is sweet and uplifting. I very much enjoyed reading this lovely picture book.