Books by Horseback

This story of a dedicated Kentucky librarian pays tribute to the Works Progress Administration Pack Horse Library Project of Depression-era Appalachia.
Edith is a packhorse librarian and travels on a daily basis to deliver books to the people who live deep in the hollers of eastern Kentucky. She sets out to deliver a book to 8-year-old William Caudill, who loves tales of derring-do. The trip is a dramatic and challenging one: Edith and her horse brave thunder, lightning, and hard wind and rain, complete with falling trees; slippery mud and steep mountain slopes; rushing creek waters; high mountain ridges a-bristle with thorny branches; and sliding rocks. But Edith’s determination is fierce, and she successfully delivers books to the Caudill family, even staying to dry off, warm up, and visit with the family. Capturing one librarian’s breathtaking fictional journey is a riveting way to showcase and honor the risky work of these real librarians, and the text communicates a deep reverence for their mission-and their tremendous fortitude. Illustrations depict a pale, red-haired librarian, nearly always smiling despite the obstacles that nature puts in her path. Light and shadow are used effectively to convey Mother Earth’s shifting moods. An author’s note and bibliography provide further details about the work of these resilient packhorse librarians of the Great Depression: “In the winter…librarians’ feet were often frozen to the stirrups.” All characters present White.
Educational and inspiring. * Kirkus Reviews *
A simple story about the lengths that people will go to in support of literacy. Delivering books on the back of a horse is no easy task. Faced with storms and flooding creek beds, Edith, who is white, and her trusty horse Dan make their way through the mountains to ensure ­William gets his adventure book. But with the weather and terrain, Edith and Dan have an adventure of their own. The story is greatly enhanced with panoramic illustrations in single- and double-page spreads. With a natural, earthy palette throughout, close perspective drawings appear on single pages, while action and depth are spread across two-page expanses that convey the danger and vastness of the area that Edith must traverse to complete her task. This is an excellent forum for bringing history and literacy together while broadening the experiences and perspectives of young ­readers. ­VERDICT Whether to incorporate into lessons about transportation or on westward expansion, this is an excellent addition for libraries and classrooms. * School Library Journal *
In rural Kentucky, Edith, a pale, freckled human with a red braid, is a packhorse librarian, who “travels for miles to deliver books” every day atop her trusty brown steed, Dan. Berne describes Edith’s journey to deliver books to one white family, the Caudills, employing plenty of sensory details that effectively convey the stakes (“Water splashes up onto Dan’s chest. Edith grips the book sack tight. If her books get wet, they’ll be ruined”). Urbinati contributes absorbing natural spreads awash with muted color, depicting dynamic characters in the ever-smiling Edith and lithe Dan. The fictional narrative proves captivating as young readers learn the lengths real-life librarians went to serve their communities during the Great Depression. Back matter includes an author’s note and bibliography. Ages 4-8. * Publishers Weekly *
What an intriguing accolade: “Edith is a packhorse librarian.” Vibrant illustrations anchor this tale, aimed at the younger reader ages four to eight, of intrepid female librarians delivering books to far-flung isolated homesteads in the rolling hills of Kentucky. The pictures are eye-popping and fill each page right to the edges. In some cases, the visual impact is heightened with the pictures covering a full two-page spread.
Focusing on travelling librarian Edith and her trusty steed, Dan, readers follow her storm-threatened journey as she ventures forth to bring books to widely separated families in difficult terrain. Appropriately, the text is written in white or black to stand out from the background picture. The narration is clear, focused, and germane to the action.
There is a symmetry between text and picture with each complementing the other. Interestingly, the last two pages provide further information, including a short bibliography, on these travelling librarians in the midst of the Great Depression. – Jon G. Bradley * Historical Novel Society *

Emma Carlson Berne (Author)

Emma Carlson Berne is the author of Books by Horseback, illustrated by Ilaria Urbinati, the Sparkle Dragons series, illustrated by Luke Flowers, and Never Let You Go, a young adult novel. She often writes about Jewish history and culture. Emma lives with her family in Cincinnati, Ohio where she enjoys reading, horseback riding, and walking in the woods.

Ilaria Urbinati (Illustrator)

Ilaria Urbinati is an illustrator based in Turin, Italy. She began her career as character designer and colorist for animated television series, before working as a freelance illustrator creating books, apps, and advertisements. Ilaria’s previous book with Little Bee Books, Saving the Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit and Books by Horseback: A Librarian’s Brave Journey to Deliver Books to Children, have received great acclaim. Ilaria is also a Professor at IADA University teaching Illustration and visual development.

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