"This inspired reimagining of the classic ‘Stone Soup’ story shows how a positive project can bring people together. Nia and the New Free Library demonstrates how spreading the love of reading might well elevate an entire community. . . [A] charming, kid-friendly take on grassroots activism."
—Shelf Awareness
When the town's old library is destroyed by a tornado, the people are left wondering: What should they do with the space where the library used to be?
The characters in Nia and the New Free Library all want different things: the builder wants there to be a new skyscraper, the grocer wants a new parking lot, but Nia just wants a new library . . . but how can one person build a whole library?
- Explores the power of community and what a group can accomplish
- Teaches the importance of working together toward a common goal
- Reminds readers of the important role libraries play in community, and how they work
Ian Lendler and Mark Pett bring humor and heart to this clever twist on the classic "Stone Soup" folktale.
This triumphant ode to the magic of sharing stories is sure to strike a chord with bibliophiles of all genres, ages, and stripes.
- Resonates year-round as a go-to birthday or holiday gift for book-loving kids
- Perfect for children ages 5 to 8 years old
- Great gift for parents and grandparents, as well as librarians, teachers, and educators
- Add it to the shelf with books like Stone Soup by Marcia Brown, Delivering Your Mail by Ann Owen, and Seeds and Trees by Brandon Walden.
"Ian Lendler (The Fabled Life of Aesop) deftly concocts a tale of kid-friendly activism, demonstrating how one small person might achieve outsize results by giving the whole diverse community a stake in the dream. . . . The sketchy line work and pastel washes of Mark Pett (This Is My Book!) bring to mind the picture book art of David Small. . . . This inspired reimagining of the classic ‘Stone Soup’ story shows how a positive project can bring people together. Nia and the New Free Library demonstrates how spreading the love of reading might well elevate an entire community. . . [A] charming, kid-friendly take on grassroots activism."
—Shelf Awareness
"Inspired by how his grandfather got his town to build a library, Lendler cleverly tells his own version of this story through a fresh variation on ‘Stone Soup.’. . . A heartening tale of community and perseverance."
—Booklist
"An entertaining narrative extolling the community-building virtues of libraries."
—Publishers Weekly
"[T]ext, art, and layout combine to create a tale that is distinctive, whimsical, funny, and a pointed reminder about public libraries’ value. . . . Tongue-in-cheek humor includes witty metafictional references. Warmly informal line-and-color art imbues the diverse inhabitants of Littletown with a sweet humanity. . . A keeper."
—Kirkus Reviews