The lost library by Jess McGeachin
Penguin Random House Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781760892715.
(Ages: 4-8) Jess McGeachin's previous book Fly
is a gentle story about a little girl trying to fix a bird's broken
wing. The lost library is an equally gentle story about a
boy trying to return a book back to its owner. Simple, unfussy,
minimalist illustrations lend this fantastical tale a mystical
quality. The adventure begins when Oliver moves to a new house and
finds an old book fluttering behind his bedroom cupboard. He isn't
really too surprised by its magical qualities but is more interested
in its inscription 'Please return to: The Lost Library'. His new
neighbour Rosie takes him to the local library to see if the
librarian there can help but as soon as Oliver drops the book into
the returns slot he and Rosie are whisked away on a journey through
the depths of the lost library.
Despite feeling trapped and lost and encountering some
nerve-wracking situations the journey feels peaceful, especially
when they find books along the way to help them (a book about
sailing when they are stuck in a boat on a stormy sea, for example).
Rosie has a lovely calming influence on Oliver and is patient and
persistent.
This is a lovely story about the power of books and the wisdom they
impart and how small connections can form the foundations of a new
friendship. There is also a dragon to find on each page, that will
encourage children to go back and reread. Themes: Reading,
Friendship, Imagination.
Nicole Nelson