Jean Boreen, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
Melvin really enjoys the Livingston Public Library, mainly because of the wonderful attention given him by its three librarians: Marge, Betty and Leeola. These three fantastic librarians taught Melvin to research insects in 1st grade, helped him practice for his role as the Enormous Eggplant in 2nd grade, and encouraged him to participate in all of the school library programs, including summer reading, after-school specials, the Readerguys Book Club, Move Night, and Spend the Night in the Library parties. In 3rd grade, when Melvin began collecting baseball cards, the women taught him how to use archival-approved boxes and where to find price guides on the Internet; in 4th grade, they helped him prepare for the county spelling bee. The picture book continues to highlight Melvin’s various experiences with the librarians, and the culminating pages show that he, too, has become a librarian. The illustrations throughout the text are lively and vibrant, creating distinct personalities for each character. I loved how effectively they underscored and developed the various activities that Melvin, Marge, Betty and Leeola were engaged in throughout the years. Written by a librarian, this is a charming text for every school and city library. 2007, Peachtree Publishers, $16.95. Ages 7 to 12.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, March 15, 2007 (Vol. 75, No. 6))
A curious boy discovers the library is the best place to be and librarians are the best people to know in this lighthearted homage. At an early age, Melvin becomes a regular at the Livingston Public Library. He especially likes the reference librarians, Marge, Betty and Leeola, who are interested in everything he is interested in and always able to find answers to his endless questions. They help Melvin with his school projects and he admires their natural talent for creating order out of chaos. A library groupie, Melvin attends every library program and even gets a part-time library job when he's in high school. But as Melvin eventually heads off to college, how will he manage without his library family? Morris clearly gets what makes librarians tick, and Sneed's humorous watercolor illustrations capture the soul of "how librarians are" in his perfect renditions of the mission-driven Marge, Betty and Leeola in action. Kids should get a kick out of the geeky Melvin, his supportive clan of nurturing bibliophiles and his so-very-logical career choice. 2007, Peachtree, 32p, $16.95. Category: Picture book. Ages 4 to 8. Starred Review. © 2007 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Mary Northrup (Library Media Connection, October 2007)
Melvin loves the library. He knows it is a wonderful place to visit, but even more so that reference librarians can help him with his insatiable curiosity. This delightful story takes Melvin from preschool to graduation and beyond as he employs the public library's resources and the expertise of the librarians in many endeavors. The three librarians-diverse in race, age, and size-personify the ideal professional with their friendliness, eagerness to help, and knowledge. They use a variety of sources, print and electronic, to help Melvin. They even introduce him to library supplies, such as acid-free boxes, to store his baseball cards. The sweet ending shows just how far their influence went. This wonderful valentine of appreciation for librarians would be ideal as a read-aloud for younger students. The illustrations, watercolor and gouache, leap to life and tell even more of the story. Young readers and listeners, and the reading adult, will delight in their humor. Combined with the text, they create a story for the next generation of children who love libraries. Recommended. 2007, Peachtree Publishers, 32pp., $16.95 hc. Ages 3 to 9.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2007)
In this tribute-to-libraries masquerading as a story, a little boy named Melvin loves the Livingston Public Library and its three librarians so much that after he graduates from college, he joins them behind the reference desk. Sneed gives his cast strangely proportioned, semi-grotesque features, although he does a good job aging the librarians a couple of decades. Category: Picture Books. 2007, Peachtree, 32pp, 16.95. Ages 4 to 9. Rating: 5: Marginal, seriously flawed, but with some redeeming quality.

Marsha Harper (The Lorgnette-Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 20, No. 1))
Here’s a book that’s a magnet for librarians. The title pulls such readers in and when they open the book, the illustrations hold them as they turn the pages. The story is a good one, delivering just what the title promises. Melvin is the protagonist. Being a curious boy, he wants to know “a lot about everything.” He likes the library as a place where he can satisfy at least some of his curiosity. He is an orderly child, so he also likes the way his public library keeps books in their proper places and the way his favorite people (librarians) are always at the reference desk. Above all, he likes the way the librarians go all-out to help him with all the questions he brings them--from information about snakes when he is very young, to the classification of insects, or the weight of the world. As he grows up, librarians, Marge, Betty, and Leeola, help Melvin win all the school contests and even help him practice his lines for the school play. He gets a job at the library when he is in high school and writes to his friends while he’s away at college. When he graduates, the three librarians are very proud of him. Brad Sneed does a great job of depicting each of the three librarians as quite different individuals, from the way they look and dress to the kind of services they provide. What they have in common is a commitment to serve the children who come to them, to give even more than they are asked to provide, and an unquenchable enthusiasm for their jobs and their patrons. This is a book to share with students and teachers who also like libraries. It might even serve as a recruiting tool for the profession. Fiction. Grades K-2. 2007, Peachtree, Unpaged., $16.95. Ages 5 to 8.