Calling all young bibliophiles! Peek inside the world’s greatest library and get the inside story on some of the rarest, oddest, most valuable, and best-loved books in its vaunted collection. A tiny prayer book carried by a queen to her execution. An atlas so huge that it takes six people to lift it. A handmade gospel hidden in a saint’s coffin, and Shakespearean folios so precious they are kept in a bombproof storeroom. From stories of man-eating monsters, brave knights, and wicked witches to tales of lost children, magical creatures, haunted moors, and flying machines, award-winning duo Mick Manning and Brita Granström bring to life the extraordinary history of the book through the treasures of one of the greatest libraries in the world: the British Library. Gr 2–5—Tackling everything from Darwin to Dickens, Shakespeare to the Brontë sisters, this volume about famous books and the amazing library they live in is a treat for the eyes and the mind. The British Library houses an impressive and enviable collection of materials old and new. Manning and Granström spotlight several of them here, all of which are penned by white authors. This title covers the books' historical significance, offers information about their authors, and, occasionally, discusses how the works were produced, some being handwritten copies. One-of-a-kind examples include the enormous Klencke Atlas, which takes six people to lift, and Lady Jane Grey's prayer book, coming in at a mere three inches by three inches, making it one of the smaller items in the library. The playful mixed-media collages mirror the lighthearted tone of the text, combining for a joyful, thoroughly accessible read. Bits of the original books incorporated into the collages are side by side with paper doll—like people, doodles by the artists, and captions. This attractive, enlightening introduction to many celebrated works of literature might encourage readers to seek out some from their own local library. VERDICT A stunningly designed romp through literature, and an excellent addition to most libraries.—Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA Children who think a visit to the British Library and its vast holdings might be on the dull side will quickly learn otherwise from this enchanting (and cleverly conceived) book...Book lovers as well as budding artists will find this quite the buffet to dip into. —Booklist (starred review) This attractive, enlightening introduction to many celebrated works of literature might encourage readers to seek out some from their own local library. ­A stunningly designed romp through literature, and an excellent addition to most libraries. —School Library Journal More than a cursory sampling of the library’s more than 150 million literary artifacts, this playful sojourn among the stacks introduces some of the most renowned works to influence Western civilization. —Publishers Weekly The British Library has 400 miles of shelves, 15 floors (five below the ground) and 150 million items, so this slim, dynamically illustrated book can only hint at what it holds and preserves. Highlights include the library’s oldest book (dating from the 7th century), its biggest (a gigantic atlas that requires six people to lift), as well as the original manuscripts of such famous books as ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.’ —Washington Post Book lovers both young and old are certain to be fascinated by this sumptuous offering that provides an amazing tour of some of the treasures inside the British Library. —Kendal Rautzhan's "Books to Borrow" syndicated column Spreads of watercolor-and-digital collage art incorporate photographs of work from the library’s archives and a docent-like narrative (with humorous touches) provide an engaging, accessible peek at the British Library’s treasure of books, documents, manuscripts, and more. —Literacy Daily Beautiful and reverent. —Kirkus Reviews Mick Manning and Brita Granström have collaborated together on both illustration and text for twenty-four years. Their critically acclaimed books have been published internationally and in many languages. They live in England.