Agard, John  Book: My Autobiography
Gr. 4–6     138 pp.     Candlewick

Illustrated by Neil Packer. This is a quirky history of the codex (with a brief glimpse at ebooks), narrated in an alternately whimsical and lyrical style by the personified Book. Packer's illustrations, many of which resemble woodcuts, punctuate the brief narratives, as do quotes about the joys of books, reading, and libraries, from Lao Tzu to Bill Gates. More a bibliophile's love letter than a reference work.
Subjects: General Knowledge; Books and reading; Quotations

Denise, Anika Aldamuy   Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré
Gr. K–3     40 pp.     HarperCollins/Harper

Illustrated by Paola Escobar. As a bilingual assistant at Nueva York's public library in 1921, Pura Belpré retells the folk stories of her native Puerto Rico at storytimes and eventually writes them down for publication. Descriptive language moves between English and Spanish seamlessly. Both text and expressive, warm illustrations carry the metaphor of planting seeds, so that readers see the seeds of Belpré's stories bloom as the biographical details unfold. Reading list. Bib.
Subjects: Individual Biographies; Women—Biographies; Women—Puerto Ricans; Puerto Ricans; Books and reading; Libraries; New York (NY); Women—Librarians

Eboch, M. M.  Big Data and Privacy Rights
Middle school, high school     112 pp.     ABDO/Essential Library

Higgins, Melissa and Regan, Michael  Net Neutrality
Middle school, high school     112 pp.     ABDO/Essential Library

Laine, Carolee  Content Ownership
Middle school, high school     112 pp.     ABDO/Essential Library

Laine, Carolee  Book Banning and Other Forms of Censorship
Middle school, high school     112 pp.     ABDO/Essential Library

Perdew, Laura  Information Literacy in the Digital Age
Middle school, high school     112 pp.     ABDO/Essential Library

Perdew, Laura  Online Identity
Middle school, high school     112 pp.     ABDO/Essential Library

Essential Library of the Information Age series. Who owns and can regulate the internet? How has social networking affected privacy? How can kids evaluate the legitimacy of what they read? These questions and more are examined in this series that addresses weighty issues raised by internet technologies of our information age. Color photos and informative sidebars complement the straightforward and balanced narratives. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.
Subjects: General Knowledge; Schools; Books and reading; Censorship; Libraries; Media; Internet; Privacy; Law; Identity; Safety; Literacy

Glenn, Sharlee  Library on Wheels: Mary Lemist Titcomb and America's First Bookmobile
Gr. 4–6, middle school   52 pp.    Abrams

In 1905, when public library service in the U.S. was young, Mary Lemist Titcomb set out to serve all corners of Washington County, Maryland, by loading up a horse-drawn wagon and making the rounds. Glenn provides a basic biography of Titcomb and recounts the success of her invention. Many photographs and ephemera in a stylish scrapbook design lend interest to a rather dry text. Bib., ind.
Subjects: Individual Biographies; Inventions and inventors; Women—Librarians; Books and reading; Titcomb, Mary Lemist; Libraries; Maryland; Women—Biographies

Manning, Mick  Books! Books! Books!: Explore the Amazing Collection of the British Library
Gr. 4–6     48 pp.     Candlewick

Illustrated by Brita Granström. This is an informative and playful picture-book introduction to the British Library's wide-ranging collection of more than 150 million items. Manning highlights some of its most prized possessions, including the ancient St. Cuthbert Gospel, the Magna Carta, and Shakespeare's First Folio. Beautiful collage art incorporates photographic images of the items into its design. Spreads also include sidebars of additional information about each piece. Glos.
Subjects: General Knowledge; Books and reading; London (England); Museums; Libraries

From the March 2019 issue of Nonfiction Notes from the Horn Book.