I'M A LIBRARIAN

The Tinyville Town series continues with a day in the life of Kevin the librarian.

In first-person narration, Kevin, who is white, states “I’m very good at answering questions,” as the sleeping form on the other side of the bed, slightly darker of skin, asks the first question of the morning via speech bubble: “What time is it?” During the morning commute, the Q-and-A continues as Kevin gives the various residents of Tinyville directions and bus information. While he’s on duty at the library information desk, Owen, a young brown-skinned patron, asks for books about elephants, but they are not on the shelf. Kevin and the youngster search the building until they finally find another library user sitting at a table enjoying the titles on pachyderms. Biggs’ pleasingly chunky cartoons, rendered with thick black lines and in bright hues against a white background, continue to be the star of this growing series. While this librarian’s job duties may be a little stereotypical and traditional (Kevin does little beyond reference work and shelving), Biggs has boiled down the librarian job description to the activities a toddler can relate to. Kevin ends the day reading in bed with the same companion, whose profile subtly hints that this librarian may be in a same-sex relationship.

Lots of love for librarians in these 22 pages—and plenty for toddlers to love, too.