Orson and the World’s Loudest Library

Gehl and Roth Sisson offer a winning library portrait in this evenhanded picture book with rough-edged, digitally colored pencil-drawn illustrations. Book lover Orson’s favorite places are quiet spots, so the child initially struggles to adapt when the local library’s reopening represents less hush than before. He urges the librarian to shush a child laughing at a comic book and a talkative book club, and when the librarian refuses, Orson, portrayed with brown skin, effectively takes on the job. As everyone falls silent, the result proves less pleasing than expected—“he remembers how happy the other kids seemed before, when they were talking, laughing, and reading.” Luckily, un-shushing proves an easy and joy-filled solution that leads to connection. Characters are shown with various abilities and skin tones. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)