Horn Book (Fri Jan 13 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Finally, the secret's out: librarians can be loud! Penelope is thrilled when she is selected to be her school's student-librarian of the week. She's been preparing for this moment all year by alphabetizing her home pantry and stickering any book she can find. There's only one problem: Penelope can't quite harness her "library voice." Books fly off the shelves and computer screens shatter as Penelope innocently shouts curious questions at her classmates. After one great big bellow leaves students ducking for cover and the library in shambles, Penelope starts to question whether she's meant to be a librarian after all. Her disappointment is short-lived, as she soon discovers storytime, where both her enthusiasm and her volume are of great benefit. Jones's mixed-media and collage illustrations are playful and eye-catching, with a three-dimensional feel. Penelope's shouts explode across the page in giant speech bubbles reverberating all the way to outer space (the astronauts know her by name). Brown-skinned Penelope sports a rainbow skirt with red-and-white striped socks -- a style as loud as her booming voice. Although she may want to steer clear of a research library, Penelope's eager attitude lands her the perfect gig. This one is sure to be a storytime favorite -- especially for librarians. Hill Saxton

Kirkus Reviews

A vocal girl finds her vocation.A diverse class of 12 youngsters finds out that Penelope, a Black girl with glasses and a barrette, will be the next student-librarian. Her classmate Angela, who drew a "Quiet Please" sign in anticipation, looks horrified by this choice, an interesting hint at conflict that goes unaddressed. Penelope has practiced for this role all year, working on her alphabetization skills and cementing her status as a book lover. Unfortunately, she also has a shockingly loud voice and struggles with impulse control, and her brief stint in the library is marked by fallen books, startled students, and a sudden domino effect when shock waves from her voice knock over an entire bookshelf. Penelope decides that her skills are better spent in outdoor storytime, and the book indicates that she keeps trying in the library. In real life, children's and elementary school libraries usually aren't as quiet as adult spaces, and this book could bolster the stereotype of the ideal librarian as sedate and shush-y. It's also unclear whether Paige Turner Library is connected to Penelope's school or a stand-alone building, raising some logistical questions. But this would be fun to read aloud, especially to a group of library lovers, and the bright, blocky illustrations are pitch-perfect for the tone. (This book was reviewed digitally.)This tale of an aspiring librarian is ideal for all kinds of storytimes. (Picture book. 4-7)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

In possession of vocal cords so loud they are registered by the International Space Station, would-be student-librarian Penelope struggles to reconcile her volume with the need for a “library voice” in Beatrice’s over-the-top story. When Penelope, portrayed with brown skin and green spectacles, is finally selected as library helper, the child feels that she’s “perfect” for the role. Displaying collage and mixed-media techniques, illustrations show her alphabetizing the kitchen cupboard and applying stickers to her books in preparation. But from the get-go, Penelope’s voice—communicated in page-filling speech balloons—proves destructively loud: books fly off the shelves, the reference desk cracks in half, and child library patrons of varying abilities and skin tones cover their ears. Jones’s scenes lean fully into the chaos while showcasing Penelope’s cheerful resilience, and a clever conclusion emphasizes the idea that there’s a place for everyone at the library. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)