The Librarian of Basra by Jeanette Winter

War does, indeed, come to Basra and the city is besieged. Undaunted, she starts taking the books home to keep them safe. Alia, afraid for the safety of her books, asks for permission to move them to safety but is denied. What a wonderful first word.Alia Muhammad Baker is the librarian of Basra, a port city in the sand-swept country of Iraq.Īlia’s library is a meeting place for people to talk together and share their thoughts and opinions, but more and more, the talk has turned to the dangers of war. It is a wonderful story to share with your child and begin a conversation.Ĭelebrating Banned Books Week is not just a time to be aware what books people want to get rid of for others’ “protection.” It is a time to celebrate our freedom to read whatever we want and to choose what we feel is best for our children, even if others do not agree.Īt the beginning of this book there is a quote by Alia Muhammad Baker taken from the New York Times: “In the Koran, the first thing God said to Muhammad was `Read’.” Would I be brave enough to do the things these extraordinary people did to save the lives and livelihoods of others? It saddens me to see this beautifully told and illustrated book challenged.

Just with books on the Holocaust, this book made me think of the situation and ask myself questions like: What would I do in that situation? What would it be like to live in a country being fought over.

This (real) story, an act of bravery, took place during a war. Not being one to tolerate violence or blood in movies (ask my husband!) I felt the pictures told the story well without being over the top. Here’s why The Librarian of Basra is Christina’s favorite banned book! This book has been challenged in 3 different school systems for being un-American, for promoting the Koran and praying to Muhammad and for violent illustrations and storyline. Alia takes matters into her own hands and removes the books, saving 70% of the library from a fire. After the war begins, everyone abandons the library leaving books to be lost or burned. It is the true story of a librarian, Alia Baker, who lives in war-torn Basra. The Librarian of Basra, written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter, was published in 2005.

The Librarian of Basra by Jeanette Winter