Title: Nour’s Secret Library
Author: Wafa’ Tarnowska
Major Themes: Syria, War, Libraries
Synopsis: When war comes to their city, Nour and her cousin Amir find a unique way to bring hope amid destruction by building a secret library.
Sometimes, when scrolling through lists of new releases, a cover will catch my eye. That’s what happened with Nour’s Secret Library, and although I hardly ever ask for review copies of picture books, this one intrigued me. I’m so glad I got to check it out! Not only is the story set in Syria (and I don’t know when the last time was that I read a book set there!), but it’s also a sweet story of hope coming out of despair.
Publisher’s description:
Forced to take shelter when their Syrian city is plagued with bombings, young Nour and her cousin begin to bravely build a secret underground library. Based on the author’s own life experience and inspired by a true story, Nour’s Secret Library is about the power of books to heal, transport and create safe spaces during difficult times. Illustrations by Romanian artist Vali Mintzi superimpose the colorful world the children construct over black-and-white charcoal depictions of the battered city.
My thoughts:
I was able to read this story to my younger sisters last night. They both enjoyed it, and a few other family members gathered around to look on as well. This is such a sweet story, set against the backdrop of war. Celebrating friendship, the love of books, and a desire to bring something good out of evil, this is a delightful story—one I’m glad I got to read. I enjoyed Nour and her cousin Amir’s zest for life, and their plans for a secret club sounded very similar to what my cousins and I used to do when we were that age. When war came and destroyed their plans, it was special to see how they pivoted and created something even better—something that gave back to the community around them.
Nour’s Secret Library makes a great read-aloud for the family. It’s a gentle way to introduce children to the effects of war (bombed buildings, no water, and little food are mentioned several times), while also giving them an appreciation for literature. I appreciated this peek into recent history, and I think my siblings did, too. The pictures were beautiful and bright-colored, the kind that I think many children would enjoy studying well after reading the story. And the notes at the end—both about libraries from history in the Middle East, a little about Syria, and the comments from the author and illustrator—were fascinating!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.
No warnings!
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 3 – 4, 5 – 8, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 5 – 6, 7 – 9
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Hardcover
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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