Found ’em in the Little Free Library

A Little Free Library is a small, wooden box commonly in the shape of a house, mounted on a post, and packed with books. The point of a Little Free Library is to bring the community together in the form of a neighborhood free book exchange. Select a book and then leave another one in its place.

This summer, I toured the Little Free Libraries around my hometown. The closest one to our house was built by a neighbor and mounted in the grassy parkway. The majority of LFLs that I visited were posted in people’s front or side yards where the grass met the sidewalk, allowing for easy access for visitors. Each LFL was constructed out of wood, had a real roof, and a clear, plexiglass door.

Each day, I would set out in search of a new LFL that I hadn’t noticed before. It became a treasure hunt of sorts—partly for the middle grade books I hoped I’d find but also for the little libraries themselves. On walks with the dog, I would come across a LFL and make a beeline for it. A quick search. Any middle grade titles I recognized? Anything “good” in there? I’d reach into my bag, select a book to donate, then take one for myself.

If the LFL looked empty, I left two books—the one I had just finished reading and my own book with a note inside the cover to check out my website. We authors have to get creative with our publicity.

BECAUSE OF KHALID (2018)
by Carolyn Armstrong

Coming of age novel about boy’s friendship with a Maasai warrior and their fight to save elephants from poachers.

Here are some other memorable findings:

EL DEAFO (2014)
by Cece Bell

Graphic novel about a deaf girl trying to fit in

WALK TWO MOONS (1994)
by Sharon Creech

2,000 mile road trip with a girl’s grandparents leads to discovery of self and of her culture

MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN (2000)
by Jean Craighead George

A tween’s year in the wilderness, surviving in the wild by choice.

THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET (2007)
by Brian Selznick

Don’t be intimidated by this monster-sized book. 284 pages are b/w illustrations that also tell the story of Hugo, an orphan, clock keeper, and thief

THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY (2008)
by Trenton Lee Stewart

Secret missions, quirky special gifts required, only a few “lucky” ones will be chosen

LOOK BOTH WAYS: A TALE TOLD IN TEN BLOCKS (2020)
by Jason Reynolds

10 short stories (one story per block) of what happens after the dismissal school bell rings