The magic of a public library, revealedPiper Waterstone, a plump little chipmunk with a voracious appetite for reading, never lets her books out of her sight. They are so special to her that she can't bear to part with them, so instead, she carries them with her wherever she goes. As her collection grows, however, transporting it becomes increasingly difficult. One rainy afternoon, her bike wobbles, and her wagon full of books spills onto the wet street. They get soaked. Piper is devastated. A gentle mole sees her plight and ushers her into the closest building-which happens to be the library. Piper looks up, mouth agape and paws clasped in wonder. This building is full of books! A glow from the majestic windows (or possibly the magic) envelops her and the mole librarian as they face the endless bookshelves. If Piper is going to join the library, she needs to learn to share the books that she loves so dearly. Is that a commitment she is willing to make? Deep, warm tones, with bright spots of gleaming lamps, wrap the space in comfort and coziness, while the anthropomorphized animals have a sweetly old-fashioned air. Notably, there's nary an electronic device in sight.A loving ode to libraries, more needed than ever in a world of increasing book bans.(Picture book. 4-7)

PreS-Gr 3— The cover illustration from this husband-and-wife team glows with the warm green light of banker lamps, illuminating the rodents who appear engrossed in moving and consuming treasured piles of classic-looking tomes. Opening end papers charmingly depict scenes of tension between dyads of animals that may or may not be siblings. Indeed, the problem of the protagonist, proud book-owner and anthropomorphized chipmunk Piper Waterstone, is that she does not yet understand the concept of sharing books and has never visited a library. Illustrations—pencil, watercolor, and digital elements—suggest warm, fuzzy problem-solving is up ahead. But despite their tackling relatable themes, the creative team behind this book has not conveyed the meaning or mechanics of sharing beyond the narrowest contexts. The book uses the notion of magic to explain how sharing works, without clarifying the broader societal benefits of sharing resources, including books. In an earnest effort to introduce youngest readers to the joys and importance of public libraries, and reinforce the inclusive mission and potential of public circulating collections, the book upholds the importance of individual ownership, neglecting the true strengths of sharing. VERDICT A charming introduction to libraries but a missed opportunity for deeper explorations.— Jessica Fenster-Sparber