The Night Librarian

Gr 4-6–When twins Page and Turner lose their father’s first edition copy of Dracula in the library, they both must partner with the Night Librarian to try and find it. But first, they must use her magic to recapture some of the most dangerous book villains who are loose in the library while befriending other characters like Peter Pan and Alice along the way. It’s Night at the Museum, but you know, a library. A subplot involving Page and Turner’s absent parents helps with adding some backstory and motive, but doesn’t really pay off in any major way. Overall, it’s a wonderful adventure filled with fantasy high jinks, snarky middle grade comments, and plenty of literary references that any library lover will appreciate. But the real star is Lincoln’s artwork—his classic yet cartoony Quentin Blake–inspired style brings the book to life with its many illustrations. The vintage feel of the character design pairs well with the many classic literary elements and gives a timeless feel to the piece as a whole.