Donna David Books

We really enjoyed this bookish, imaginative picture book. We all know that librarians are superheroes, and so often are grandparents.

The story in The Awesomely Adventurous Librarians follows young Rida and her grandfather at Sleepy Creek Library, where they work as a team to find the right book for every visitor. Rida helps to track readers’ requests for books, while Grandad uses a secret passageway to venture into the magical Land of Books to find the living stories. The relationship between the two is tender and authentic. Grandad acts as the wise guide who will dive into oceans or climb clouds to help his readers, while Rida watches and learns from him.

When a particularly tricky book leaves Grandad stumped, the dynamic shifts and Rida steps up to the plate. Determined to help her grandfather, Rida packs her rucksack with his old gear and trusty map to brave the wild jungle on his behalf.

Victoria Stebleva’s bright and energetic illustrations capture the affection and teamwork between the pair perfectly, as well as the spirit of adventure.It is a wonderful look at family connection that shows just how much a grandchild can learn from a grandparent’s wisdom, as well as the way in which stories that grandparents introduce, read and tell can impact a child’s imaginative landscape so profoundly.

Highly recommended for EYFS and Key Stage 1 classrooms, The Awesomely Adventurous Librarians is a great choice for talking about different family setups and the various fatherly role models in children’s lives.