I’ve heard stories. When I interview authors for this site, I ask them to tell me a story about libraries or librarians in their lives. I’ve heard Neil Gaiman talk about the role his local public library played in his life as a child. Nancy Pearl talks about it. There was no one librarian in my life as a child, but the Huron Public Library was a beautiful place in my eyes. Fortunately, I had a secure family life with parents who loved to read and took me to the library. Lydia M. Sigwarth’s picture book, Dear Librarian, is a tribute to one librarian who changed her life.

Sigwarth first told the story publicly for “This American Life”, and Ira Glass, host and executive producer of that show introduces this book. For six months as a child, Sigwarth’s family was homeless. They moved to Iowa while Lydia’s father looked for work. But, there were seven children in the family, and none of Sigwarth’s extended family could accommodate nine people for a lengthy period of time. So, they moved from house to house, and the young girl missed the stability of a family home.

Then, one day, Lydia’s mother took them to a big building, the public library. It was a welcoming place, with so much to appeal to children. But, best of all was the Librarian who welcomed Lydia, and listened to her. And, she welcomed her every day with hugs, and smiles, and stories.

Dear Librarian is Lydia M. Sigwarth’s thank you letter to her childhood librarian. It’s beautifully illustrated by Romina Galotta. And, if you get the book, and can take the cover off of it, it’s worth it to see the gorgeous book underneath.

Sigwarth’s book is not only a beautiful gift to librarians everywhere. It’s a story of homelessness, and a child who found a refuge, a home, and a friend at the library.

Now, here’s a spoiler.

Ira Glass and “This American Life” reunited Lydia Sigwarth with her childhood librarian. There’s a picture of the two of them at the back of the book. And, Lydia M. Sigwarth grew up to be a librarian because of that librarian.

Here’s the end of the spoiler. I have wonderful memories of trips my parents took us on, travels all around the country. We all have wonderful memories of historic sites and national parks and road trips and campgrounds. But, one of my favorite adventures was in my hometown. For one week, we moved from our house to a house a block from the library. Every day I walked to the library, checked out a pile of books, and went back to that temporary home to spend the rest of the day in the hammock on the screened in porch. Yes, my parents took us to the library regularly. But, to walk to the library, on my own, daily, and be able to bring back books! That’s my special library memory.

In the last year, so many of you readers missed the libraries that you love. Just think of the children who missed a year of time with a place that could feel like home.

Dear Librarian by Lydia M. Sigwarth, illustrated by Romina Galotta. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2021. ISBN 9780374313906 (hardcover).

FTC Full Disclosure – I bought a copy of this book.