Anne of the Library-on-the-Hill
A delightful historical fiction picture book for mid-summer Anne of the Library-on-the-Hill by Catherine Little and Sae Kimura will have you thinking about kindred spirits.
Anne lives at Bathurst Street and Davenport Road. She loves to visit the Wychwood Library, aka the Library-on-the-Hill, with her father. She goes there many afternoons with her father and they always come home with a bag full of books. When her father has to leave to serve in the war (WWI) Anne no longer has anyone to take her there as her mother is too busy as the breadwinner. Eventually she is able to head back, when the new branch is built and after her mother gifts her her copy of Anne of Green Gables she explores all of Lucy Maude Montgomery’s works. A chance meeting after leaving the library leave Anne inspired and full of joy.
Catherine Little’s delightful story shares her love for Anne and L.M. Montgomery with young readers. It’s obvious Anne of Green Gables and the other worlds of L.M. Montgomery hold a place dear to her heart through reading the lovely text. I love how interspersed with the narrative are quotes from many of L.M. Montgomery’s beloved stories to intrigue readers and perhaps send them searching for the stories of P.E.I.
I love that this story is a love letter to the library. The main character in the story loves the library and visits often just like many readers who will pick up this book. Providing a little history of the Toronto area and the Wychwood library branch is very fascinating. The area has had many iterations of the branch over the years including a recent major renovation. This story has inspired me to take a trip to that branch!
It’s a longer picture book so best shared with older readers or readers that enjoy a longer story. Catherine Little does pack a lot into her stories and gives readers so much information throughout the story.
Sae Kimura’s illustrations are so perfect for this story. They are very evocative of the descriptions in L.M. Montgomery’s books and add beauty to the text. I love how colourful and vibrant they are with the feeling of being transported back in time through watercolour and pencil crayon drawings.
