English / Australia
Midnight at the library
Dubosarsky, Ursula
(text)
Brooks, Ron
(illus.)
Canberra, ACT: NLA Publishing, 2018. – [37] p.
ISBN 978-0-642-27931-6
Book | Library | History
Reading age: 5+
White Ravens issue: 2019
„Midnight at the Library” is a collaboration between two highly renowned Australian children’s literature creators. It pairs Ursula Dubosarsky’s intense lyrical text with Ron Brooks’s stunning illustrations to tell two intertwined stories. One story follows two young children on a hunt for a specific book on their midnight romp through a library: “The little books is very old / the little book is made of gold.” The second narrative strand, while recounting the creation of this particular little book, remembers the defining moments in the “lives” of books throughout history. The powerful full-page illustrations pick up these pivotal moments, such as the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg or the burning of books by the Nazi regime during World War II. Executed in different media and styles, the pictures pay homage to various artists, including M.C. Escher and Vincent van Gogh. Published to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Library of Australia, this gem will enchant book lovers worldwide.