Pritchard, Caroline Kusin. The Keeper of Stories. New York : Simon & Schuster, 2025.
In 1966, fire set ablaze the Jewish Theological Library in New York City. Seventy thousand books – some dating back to the Middle Ages – were destroyed. But approximately 170,000 were saved with the help of firefighters and thousands of volunteers. Supplemented with additional information and photographs, this beautifully designed and illustrated picture book is highly recommended for book lovers of all ages.

P.S. Some stories flow like the rippling water of mountain streams. The syntax of the sentences, the placement of the words on the pages, and the size and colour of the font used in this book make the story a delight for the eyes and the ears. The collaged full-page illustrations by Selina Alko carry that movement, as well. A joyous book that inspires a sense of hope in the power of community. 

More stories about books and libraries

More books set in New York City…

Brown, Marc. In New York. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2014.
The acclaimed author of dozens of books – including the stories of Arthur, the aardvark –  takes readers on a tour of his favourite city: New York. The conversational style of writing and softly detailed illustrations – in watercolour and gouache – depict a city full of exciting things to see.  Recommended for readers 7 years old and up.

Raschka, Chris. The Doorman’s Repose. New York: New York Review Books, 2017.

What goes on in a New York City apartment building? What secrets are hiding behind all the doors? What goes on in the lives of little creatures – such as mice? How do the machines that keep the building running feel? This collection of 10 interconnected short stories – by an astonishingly talented storyteller –  will amaze and amuse readers 10 years old and up. 

Rubbino, Salvatore. A Walk in New York. Somerville, Mass.: Candlewick Press, 2009.

A young boy and his father tour New York, including Grand Central Station, the Empire State Building, and Union Square Park. Part of a series of picture books about cities of the world.