That Book Woman - Book Review

That Book Woman, by Heather Henson, is a wonderful tribute to librarians. I am thrilled to see a book that features a librarian as a heroine and an important part of our country's history.

This historical fiction picture book tells the story of the Pack Horse Library Project that was founded in the 1930s as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration. Librarians (mostly women) were hired to take books to remote areas in the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky.

Cal and Lark live in a small cabin in the mountains. Lark is a real bookworm and always has her nose in a book. Cal believes that reading is for girls and he is too macho to show an interest in the books. Cal is amazed that the Book Woman rides her horse up the mountain to exchange books every two weeks. She comes in the rain, fog, cold...even a blizzard.

Cal respected the Book Woman for her courage, dedication and persistence. One day he picked up a book and asked Lark to teach him how to read it. Lark is a good teacher and Cal is a determined student. Now, there are two readers in the family instead of one. The last illustration in the book shows Cal and Lark sitting on the the front porch of their cabin...they are both engrossed in their books. Thank you to the Book Woman!

This book is written in Appalachian dialect and the illustrations make it seem very realistic. The book is appropriate for early and middle elementary students. I think it would be perfect for a history lesson on The Great Depression and the 1930s. There is an "Author's Note" in the back of the book that gives details about the Pack Horse Library Project and other resources to find more information.