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Thursday, August 12, 2010

The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq by Jeannette Winter

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Title: The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq
Author / Illustrator: Jeanette Winter
Publisher / Date: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt / 2005
Genre: Nonfiction, Picture Book
Themes: War, Literature, Courage
Summary: In a country where women have little power, one woman, the librarian, finds the courage to make a difference in her community. During a war, community buildings are being destroyed. The librarian knows the importance of the library to her community and counts the cost of losing it forever. She decides she must do something to save the library and begins one by one hiding the books in her own home. 
Curriculum Connections: Grades 3-5 Social Studies: oppression and the effects of war on a community, social responsibility; Geography: Iraq; Language Arts: love of literature and the power of reading
Notes: Be sure to read the author's note at the end. Proceeds from this book go to rebuild Basra's library. Click below to read an interview with the author about this book.
http://www.harcourtbooks.com/authorinterviews/bookinterview_Winter.asp
Click below for a study guide for this book from Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility: 
http://www.teachablemoment.org/elementary/iraqstudyguides.html

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