Thomas Jefferson Builds A Library.

Rosenstock, Barb.  Thomas Jefferson Builds A Library.  Boyd's Mills/Calkins Creek  2013  32p  $16.95  ISBN 978-1-59078-932-2  elem/ms  Nonfiction picture book    E-BN

This is the story of Thomas Jefferson’s love of books and reading. His desire to read and learn led to the establishment of the Library of Congress.  The author and illustrator beautifully present the Jefferson’s endless desire to read, learn and share his intellect with others.  As a young boy, Jefferson started reading and collecting books.  Wherever he lived he had a library, and he encouraged others around him to read.  It comes as no surprise that when the British invaded Washington D.C. and burned the Congressional Library, Jefferson sent ten wagons, each loaded with a ton of books, to Washington D.C.  This was the start of the Library of Congress.  It was a collection that included some curious subjects, such as where to fish, how to fly, ghosts, and revolution.

 
Today, “the Library of Congress owns more than 155 million items, on over 800 miles of shelves in 70 languages.  It adds around 11,500 new items each day: movies, music, drawings, maps, newspapers, magazines ,posters, speeches, and books, books, books.”

The pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations by John O’Brien create dramatic visuals.  Each two-page spread portrays Jefferson as a humorous cartoon-like person in constant motion in connection to books.

Each page also contains images of an open book containing further information on a topic.  Author notes, picture credits, a bibliography, and source notes provide further information.

Summary: This is the story of Thomas Jefferson’s love of books and reading. His desire to read and learn led to the establishment of the Library of Congress. 
                 

Library of Congress                                   --Linda McNeil