Jumping Off Library Shelves

The magic begins with these opening lines from "Breakfast Between the shelves" by Rebecca Kai Dotlich:Morning pours spoons of sunthrough tall windows, rests alonga reading chair, a copper rail;hovers over crumbs, small supper scrapsleft by those who opened bookslast night, to live in story.Not only is this a warm welcome (love those "spoons of sun"), but as a reader, I feel assured of an extraordinary experience.Everything about this anthology IS extraordinary, from the star-studded poet line-up (including Nikki Grimes, X.J. Kennedy, J. Patrick Lewis, Alice Schertle, and Jane Yolen, among others) to the imagination and soft, dreamy quality of Jane Manning's exquisite gouache and pencil illustrations.JUMPING OFF LIBRARY SHELVES captures the joy of reading. It thrills in the excitement of walking through library doors– "the sweet kingdom of story" as Nikki Grimes describes it, the enchanting lure of stacks upon stacks of books, and the superpowers of owning a library card. It celebrates the generous spirit of librarians, the "quiet weight of words" per Deborah Ruddell, and helps us to feel warm, snuggly, and peaceful with our favorite books... like this one.Just one reading was enough for me to give it "one-of-my-all-time-favorites" status. I wouldn't be surprised if you have the same response.

Jump into a world of adventure- at your library! Adventures are awaiting you everywhere. Open the doors and explore every avenue of the library that awaits you, from the shelves to the Internet, to your very own library card! Storytellers wait to read you a tale, and even librarians that can help you find the perfect book from your heart.Fall into the magic that awaits you, while you wrap yourself in the coziness of a good book. From morning to night, there are adventures everywhere. Your library is a refuge, a safe haven, or a magical ship that takes you on a journey to far away lands. At the end of the day, use your book as a pillow and dream of the many adventures and stories you’ve heard.Perfect for librarians and teachers, Jumping Off Library Shelves, can excite students and readers to explore the magic hidden within the shelves at their local library, or their school library. This book hits all the marks, it can be read as a story at home, read out loud in the library, used in the classroom for discussion or, as an educational tool on poems.* review originally published in Dixon Independent Voice Newspaper column- For The Love of Books