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A review by mat_tobin
Digging for Words: José Alberto Gutiérrez and the Library He Built by Angela Burke Kunkel
4.0
'Over ten million people live in the city of Bogotá, Colombia. There are only nineteen libraries.'
Lifted from the author's note, this quote sets the premise for what is a remarkable, true story of José Alberto Gutiérrez, a former rubbish collector, also known as 'Lord of the Books'. Discovering a thrown-away copy of Anna Karenina on his route one day, Gutiérrez finds himself inspired to start his own library filled with the books that others cast away. Perhaps this collection has the power to inspire those who cannot afford to access books.
In order to bring a stronger sense of narrative to the story and have a child as part of the telling, Kunkel and Escobar introduce a different José, a young boy who spends his week looking forward to Saturday where he and his friends can enjoy a little slice of Paradise: Señor José's home; now crammed with reclaimed books and stories. Together they sail off on adventures through their imaginations and the written word and these journeys provide them both with immense pleasure.
Escobar's illustrations are a delight. From an urban, multi-ethnic Columbia, we are transported to magical villages deep in the Columbian jungles and strange volcanic islands. For a financially struggling neighbourhood, Gutiérrez home becomes a beacon of hope for the locals. This is an inspirational story about believing in a community and the power in ensuring that everyone has free access to literature.
Lifted from the author's note, this quote sets the premise for what is a remarkable, true story of José Alberto Gutiérrez, a former rubbish collector, also known as 'Lord of the Books'. Discovering a thrown-away copy of Anna Karenina on his route one day, Gutiérrez finds himself inspired to start his own library filled with the books that others cast away. Perhaps this collection has the power to inspire those who cannot afford to access books.
In order to bring a stronger sense of narrative to the story and have a child as part of the telling, Kunkel and Escobar introduce a different José, a young boy who spends his week looking forward to Saturday where he and his friends can enjoy a little slice of Paradise: Señor José's home; now crammed with reclaimed books and stories. Together they sail off on adventures through their imaginations and the written word and these journeys provide them both with immense pleasure.
Escobar's illustrations are a delight. From an urban, multi-ethnic Columbia, we are transported to magical villages deep in the Columbian jungles and strange volcanic islands. For a financially struggling neighbourhood, Gutiérrez home becomes a beacon of hope for the locals. This is an inspirational story about believing in a community and the power in ensuring that everyone has free access to literature.