The Tiny Hero of Ferny Creek Library

June 19, 2017
Bailey’s eponymous hero, Eddie, is a bright green bug who lives with his 53 siblings in a crack in the wall of Room 19 of Ferny Creek Elementary School. When his Aunt Min goes missing, it’s up to Eddie (whose mother writes him off as “a dreamer, a fool—a nincompoop!”) to maneuver through treacherous hallways full of “Squishers” to the library to find her. But Eddie’s challenges are only beginning: Min is injured and unable to travel, and the school’s insect-hating new librarian threatens to make Ferny Creek a book-free zone. Encouraged by the brave characters from his Aunt Min’s stories, Eddie resolves to save the library and his aunt. Avid readers will enjoy the plethora of references to beloved children’s tales, as well as the adventures of an unlikely champion who overcomes human-size obstacles. The danger is mild, but Eddie delivers an entertaining bug’s-eye perspective on the larger world, and Jamieson’s b&w spot illustrations match the story’s energy and sense of adventure. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Hilary McMahon, Westwood Creative Artists. Illustrator’s agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary Management.

April 1, 2017
Eddie is a vibrantly green bug who lives in Ferny Creek Elementary School. Could such a tiny critter become a hero?After his aunt Min goes missing on a trip to the school's library, he sets off to rescue her. But it turns out that she doesn't need rescue quite as much as their school library does. With the librarian on maternity leave, the superintendent brings in wicked, archetypal Ms. Visch ("rhymes with squish") as her replacement. Her only concern is to get rid of the beloved, welcoming library and replace it with an austere testing center. Since Eddie and Aunt Min can read, the library and its familiar works hold a special place in their hearts. Eddie begins to leave notes on the spines of some of their favorite books, hoping to sway Ms. Visch to make a better choice. Instead, she's enraged. The children, believing the notes are the work of a much-loved volunteer who died (smiling) in the library, launch an effort to rescue the place, not even knowing why it's in jeopardy. Bugs are fully rounded characters; people (referred to as Squishers) are just sketched in this bug's-perspective third-person narrative. Rich with references to familiar tales and accompanied by realistic illustrations by Newbery honoree Jamieson, this effort will charm library lovers and would make a fine read-aloud, as brave, endearing Eddie navigates one terrible peril after another. An excellent, engaging tale for a broad range of ages. (Fantasy. 5-12)

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May 1, 2017

Gr 3-5-Eddie is a beetle who lives with his family in a crack in the wall of the fourth grade classroom at Ferny Creek Elementary School. When his book-loving Aunt Min fails to return from her most recent trip to the school library, Eddie sets out to search for her, only to find her injured, hungry, and marooned atop the librarian's desk. Hiding out in the paper tray, the bugs overhear a disturbing phone conversation between the substitute librarian and the school superintendent: their plan is to close the library and turn it into a testing center. As they watch Miss Visch start packing away the books, Eddie hatches a plan involving blueberry juice, licorice, and yellow sticky notes. Using his legs to write messages, he leaves the notes stuck to books on the shelves, raising suspicion that the benign ghost of a former library volunteer is interceding to save the library. The obvious message is pleasantly tempered by subtle humor, many references to beloved children's books, and themes that celebrate bravery, perseverance, and storytelling. There's lots of action as Eddie faces dangers navigating the world of "squishers" who may trample him at any moment. The writing is breezy and accessible, and children will enjoy the bug's-eye view. A bibliography of referenced titles is included. VERDICT Despite the length, this is a good choice for younger readers and would work well as a classroom read-aloud.-Marie Orlando, formerly at Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from May 15, 2017
Grades 3-5 *Starred Review* Taking a cue from Charlotte the spider, a bookish bug finds a way to save a school library from being turned into a testing center. When his beloved Aunt Min disappears on one of her frequent visits to Ferny Creek Elementary's library, dreamy young Eddie nervously leaves the safety of his family's nest to investigate. Finding her alive but too injured to escape, he stays with her to talk about great books like Stuart Little and to listen with delight as classes come throughout the days for storytime. But then the terrific librarian leaves to have triplets and is replaced by Estelle Grisch ( rhymes with squish ), a crabbed nonprofessional who schemes with her brother, the superintendent, to convert the room. When a comprehensive weeding project begins with the removal of graphic novels, Eddie appeals with a series of Post-it notes: Please . . . save . . . the library. Superstitious as well as narrow-minded, Ms. Grisch is terrified by the supposed ghost. Though she villainizes Ms. Grisch a little too enthusiastically, Bailey fills the narrative with references to classic works of the past and present (and adds a Bugliography at the end), and has picked a theme (and outcome) that will be dear to the hearts of young readers as well as educators and librarians. In occasional drawings, Jamieson portrays Eddie and his clan as beetlelike insects of no particular species.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)