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That Book Woman
That Book Woman | Heather Henson
9 posts | 11 read | 9 to read
Cal is not the readin' type. Living way high up in the Appalachian Mountains, he'd rather help Pap plow or go out after wandering sheep than try some book learning. Nope. Cal does not want to sit stoney-still reading some chicken scratch. But that Book Woman keeps coming just the same. She comes in the rain. She comes in the snow. She comes right up the side of the mountain, and Cal knows that's not easy riding. And all just to lend his sister some books. Why, that woman must be plain foolish -- or is she braver than he ever thought? That Book Woman is a rare and moving tale that honors a special part of American history -- the Pack Horse Librarians, who helped untold numbers of children see the stories amid the chicken scratch, and thus made them into lifetime readers.
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jb72
That Book Woman | Heather Henson
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Pickpick

#bookspinbingo #chunksummerchallenge - 814 pages

Women delivered books on horseback in the Appalachian areas starting around 1935. What an amazing feat! I live in eastern KY and I‘m still surprised at the amount of adults and children who cannot read or write. Teach a child to read and the whole world opens up for them!

27 likes1 comment
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Sharpeipup
That Book Woman | Heather Henson
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My library is closed as the staff have tested positive for Covid so my holds were shipped to another branch where I saw this statue. #mylibrary

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Eggs
That Book Woman | Heather Henson
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I‘m recommending this lovely book to anyone who enjoyed The Giver of Stars or The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek. The art is beautiful and tells the story of a reluctant reader and his #family high up in the Appalachians, and his puzzlement about the woman who delivers books on horseback no matter the weather... They are truly #blessed
@SarahBradley #thankfulthoughts @Eggs #forevernovember @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Looks good!! 3y
OriginalCyn620 Looks cute! 3y
74 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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Teresereading
That Book Woman | Heather Henson
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MarriedtoMrT
That Book Woman | Heather Henson
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After reading an NPR segment on pack horse librarians, I sought out some more reading material and found this fairly new picture book. It‘s a touching story about how a librarian‘s commitment to reaching her far flung patrons even in the most grueling weather inspires a young boy to learn to read.

“And all at once
I yearn to know
what makes that Book Woman
risk catching cold,
or worse.”

Every Litten knows books are worth it!

Zelma This one is geared toward younger readers but the photos are fantastic. 5y
MarriedtoMrT @Zelma I have that one checked out, too! I haven‘t read it yet but from what I‘ve pages through you are absolutely right about the photos. 5y
49 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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youngreadrshelf
That Book Woman | Heather Henson
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Story of a boy who doesn't see the value in reading, but gradually changes his mind based on the journey a traveling librarian must undergo to deliver books to his sister.

Beautiful fictional account of true backwoods librarians.

Zelma This would be a good supplement. It's a kids book but has fabulous photographs of librarians who traveled via horseback in Kentucky. 7y
youngreadrshelf @Zelma thanks. I'll keep it in mind! 7y
31 likes2 comments
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batsy
That Book Woman | Heather Henson
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Fascinating piece on the Pack Horse Librarians, who rode horses to deliver books to people deep in the Appalachians during the Depression http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/horse-riding-librarians-were-great-depress...

"Roads could be impassable, and one librarian had to hike her 18-mile route when her mule died."

BookishMarginalia That is commitment! 7y
ReadingEnvy Wow cool! 7y
See All 14 Comments
saresmoore So awesome! 7y
batsy @ReadingEnvy @saresmoore Their dedication is so admirable. 7y
DivineDiana I did not know about these brave and dedicated book angels! Fantastic! (edited) 7y
batsy @DivineDiana Amazing, isn't it 7y
Leftcoastzen @batsy Amazing article.31% couldn't read.Such dedicated librarians.Plus era of the one room schoolhouse. Grades 1 thru 8.Half the time the kids only went thru 6th . When they could do math and basic reading the parents needed them at home and to work . (edited) 7y
batsy @Leftcoastzen Incredible. That makes it all the more wonderful that librarians were determined to get books into the hands of those with the least access. 7y
Leftcoastzen @batsy Indeed.I love how many lesser known stories are about people going the extra mile to help others. (edited) 7y
batsy @Leftcoastzen I'm sorry I'm giggling at the typo of my handle 😂 But you're so right. In contrast to the news, the little known stories are always about people (many who don't have much themselves) doing all they can to help others. 7y
Leftcoastzen @basty 😂 corrected re:Nasty ! Don't know you well enough to say that 😂curse you autocorrect! 7y
batsy @Leftcoastzen 😂😂 7y
58 likes14 comments
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ashlinisme
That Book Woman | Heather Henson
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Same, girl. Same.

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Soubhiville
That Book Woman | Heather Henson
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Here's everything I read for #24in48 #readathon
I used the children's books as pallet cleansers. Not pictured is the audiobook Dodger by Terry Pratchett.

Thanks Litsy and 24in48! I can't wait to do it again!

BookishFeminist Great job! Lots of great stuff in here 👏🏼👏🏼🎉 8y
MrBook Awesome! 😁👍🏻 8y
ReadingEnvy I used short stories as my palate cleansers (from an anthology I finally got through.) it's a good idea to have something!! 8y
Soubhiville @ReadingEnvy short stories are a great idea! I have several anthologies I've only read from in bits and pieces. I'm keeping this in mind for January, thanks! 8y
Readingrobin Great selection! 8y
40 likes3 stack adds5 comments