Back of Book:
In the city of Bogata, in the barrio of La Nueva Gloria, there live two Joses. One is a boy who dreams of Saturdays– that’s the day he gets to visit Paradise, the library. The second Jose is a garbage collector. From dusk until dawn, he scans the sidewalks as he drives, squinting in the dim light, searching household trash for hidden treasure . . . books! Some are stacked in neat piles, as if waiting for José, Others take a bit more digging. Ever since he found his first book, Anna Karenina, years earlier, he’s been collecting books–thick ones and thin ones, worn ones and almost new ones– to add to the collection in his home. And on Saturdays, kids like little Jose run to the steps of Paradise to discover a world filled with books and wonder.
My Review:
I received a copy of this picture book from author Angela Burke Kunkel in exchange for an honest review.
Debut author Angela Burke Kunkel wrote an inspirational and moving nonfiction picture book about a young boy, a garbage collector, and their shared love of books. The text follows both José Alberto Gutiérrez, the garbageman, and José, the little boy excited to pick out his next book from the library. José Alberto Gutiérrez goes through this garbage route and collects the precious books he finds to share with his community. Jose the boy eagerly looks forward to Saturdays when he can go to the library. The lyrical text is beautifully written and captures the magic and excitement that comes with reading books. The illustrations by Paola Escobar are bright and imaginative. Her attention to detail brings each illustration to life. The back of the book has more information about the life and work of José Alberto Gutiérrez, as well as photos of him in his library. This is a powerful biography that shows readers the impact that books can have on every aspect of their lives.
Ages 5 and up
40 Pages
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