Winters the librarian of basra understated but powerful story is set in modern afghanistan under the taliban when girls were forbidden to attend school. As the war in iraq approaches her city, she wonders what will happen to the librarys. Alia muhammad baker, the chief librarian of al basrah central library. Told for children it conveys the value of books and reading, set, of course, against a difficult background. Now war has come, and alia fears that the libraryalong with the thirty thousand books within itwill be destroyed forever.
Alia is worried that war could destroy her library and all the precious books. Oct 11, 2017 the librarian of basra was the first book i read by writer and illustrator jeanette winter, and i loved it and her immediately. Her library that has 30,000 books, is a meeting place for the book lovers of the city. This librarian remembers reading it aloud to day care centers and after school groups back when he worked as a childrens librarian. She asks the governor permission to move the books but is denied. Librarian alia muhammad baker saved the majority of the collection of the basra central library, and much of the history of basra, from the looting and destruction of war. Fearing imminent war, alia muhammad baker takes matters into her own hands to save the books in her library. Of the two, i preferred alias mission because it was a more indepth version of the story.
When war comes to basra, alia saves the books in the only way she can see. When the country was invaded, alia, the librarian was worried about the books in her library. Questions and activities for the librarian of basra. As the war in iraq approaches her city, she wonders what will happen to the librarys thirty thousand books. Apr 30, 2020 in striving to enrich the lives of all readers, teachingbooks supports the first amendment and celebrates the right to read. A basra librarian remembers how she moved 30,000 books out of the citys central library to a neighboring restaurant and later to her.
Photo department, photographer created published 1938 april. When the american invasion reaches basra in 2003, iraqi military officials set up offices in the library, putting the precious library collection in danger. This book takes place in a port city of iraq, basra. Alia muhammad baker is the chief librarian at basras central library. The librarian of basra by jeanette winter, jeanette. The library of congress does not own rights to material in its collections. Iraqi librarian saved 30,000 books during 2003 invasion. For fourteen years, her library has been a meeting place for those who love books. Her actions inspired two fabulous childrens books and earned her a place in the rich history of iraqi libraries.
Saving the books of iraq by mark alan stamatyrecount story of iraqi librarian alia. An authors note gives backgound at the end of the book. Rumors of war spreading to their town are beginning to worry the librarian, alia muhammad baker. Now war has come, and alia fears that the libraryalong with. Alia muhammad baker is the reallife librarian of basra. The librarian of basra a true story from iraq youtube. For fourteen years, the library where she works has been a meeting place for those who love books. Alia muhammad baker is the librarian of basra, iraq. Her library is a meeting place for all who love books. A true story from iraq by jeanette winter in the koran, the first thing god said to muhammad was read. The talk in the library turns to war and the fears it is brining with it.
She became worried about the books where she was head librarian. When war seemed imminent, alia muhammad baker, chief librarian of basras central library, was determined to protect the librarys holdings. The librarian of basra is as the subtitle states, a true story from iraq. Living history is not always sweet, but winter, who has made beauty from contemporary horror in september roses p. This book is the true story of alia muhammad baker, a librarian in basra iraq. A true story from iraq by jeanette winter, based on a new york times article of july 27, 2003, tells the story of alia muhammad baker, head librarian of basra, iraq who helped save 70% of the librarys collections before the library burned during the iraq war. Alia muhammad bakers library in basra, iraq, has been a meeting place for those who love books for the past fourteen years. The librarian of basra is a true story that takes place in 2003 in the city of basra in the country of iraq. Picture books have traditionally been 32 pages long, although little golden books are 24 pages. Apr 03, 2020 the librarian of basra by jeanette winter childrens recommendations. Wangaris trees of peace by jeanette winter scholastic. Under alia s leadership, the library was a place where doctors, lawyers, professors, students and artists met each afternoon.
It is a place for those who love books to come and discuss matters of the world and matters of the spirit. Baker saved an estimated 30,000 books from destruction during the iraq war, including a biography of muhammad from around 0 baker had worked at the library for 14 years. Questions and activities for the librarian of basra 1. Jul 20, 2015 the librarian of basra tells the story of a woman who saved books from a library that was later burned down. A true story from iraq by jeanette winter and alias mission. The librarian of basra by jeanette winter paperback. Childrens books set in afghanistan, iraq challenged in. A picture book based on the true story of wangari maathai, an environmental and political activist in kenya and winner of the nobel peace prize in 2004. This resource is a close reading and vocabulary pack for the book the librarian of basra by jeanette winterwhats included in this 18 page pack. Alia muhammad baker is the librarian of basra, a port city in the sandswept country of iraq.
She is the head librarian of the basra city library. Following titles such as the librarian of basra 2005, winter tells another powerful story, based on true events, of an individual activist whose singular courage brings social change. Jeanette winter alia muhammad baker is a librarian in basra, iraq. The librarian of basra by jeanette winter scholastic. This is the true story of alia baker, written for children, who saved the books from the main library in basra when war broke out in 2003. Therefore, it does not license or charge permission fees for use of such material and cannot grant or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute the material. Alia muhammad baker was the chief librarian of the central library in basra, iraq, a meeting place for many and quite near one of basras best restaurants.
In a warstricken country where civilians especially womenhave little power, this true story about a. It includes resources to get you organized for the school year including a library planner, back to school no prep printables, posters, labels, activities and mu. A true story from iraq, by jeanette winter is the true story of alia muhammad baker. Nasreens secret school is about a girl seeking an education in an area. Nonfiction, biography in spite of looming war, librarian alia muhammed baker was able to save the books from the library of basra by moving them to safety. Judythe sieck in the koran, the first thing god said to muhammad was read. They discuss matters of the world and matters of the spirit.
Favorite stories about libraries and librarians reading rockets. This includes before, during, and after reading discussions. In the koran, the first thing god said to muhammad was read. The story of alia muhammad baker and her attempts to save the 30,000 books during the 2003 invasion of iraq is inspiring to those who value literature, libraries, and the freedom to access knowledge. Grade 24 when war seemed imminent, alia muhammad baker, chief librarian of basras central library, was determined to protect the librarys holdings. Early 2000s this is the true story of alia baker, written for children, who saved the books from the main library in basra when war broke out in 2003.
A picture book is a book, typically for children, in which the illustrations are as important asor more important thanthe words in telling the story. The librarian of basra has a different perspective sometimes we must have the courage to protect books from danger, in this instance, from the danger of war. Alia states that in the koran, god told his messenger muhammad to read. Get it today with same day delivery, order pickup or drive up. One day, however, things change for alia and her beloved library. Alia muhammad baker is the librarian in basra, iraq just before the desert storm conflict begins. This is a reading lesson that integrates social studies and character education. Alia muhammad baker alia muhammad baker is a librarian in basra, iraq. When the library catches on fire, alia gathers her friends to help her save all the books. She was proud of her countrys history and the priceless heritage provided by the books in her library.
The author and illustrator, jeanette winter, begins her book with a quote from the librarian of basra. Mark alan stamaty is a cartoonist, and alias mission tells the story through graphic cartoon panels. As a child she was told the story of the burning of baghdads nizamiyya library and was. Pdf download the librarian of basra free nwc books. Now war has come, and alia fears that the libraryalong with the thirty thousand books w. It wasn t a quiet place, but a place to talk about the stories in the books. Alia muhammad bakeralia muhammad baker is a librarian in basra, iraq. Alia muhammad baker is the chief librarian at basra s central library. Appropriate for older elementary, middle, and high school students, the book opens by characterizing alia as a. Alia was the chief librarian of the al basra central library in basra, iraq when the war came in 2003. A true story of iraq, a picture book, is the story of how the librarian saved the librarys. Simple forms and deep colors in a naive style evoke the war without being explicit.
The lesson is written for fourth grade, but could definitely be modifiedchanged for the upper grade levels. Iraqi librarian becomes cultural hero in 2 childrens. Engage ny module 1 the librarian of basra close reading. Created in picture book format, this is an excellent book for 8 to 12yearolds. Jeanette winter is the author of the librarian of basra 4. This book is written for all ages however the faith questions here are for older adolescents. Jun 28, 2019 the librarian of basra is as the subtitle states, a true story from iraq. As a child she was told the story of the burning of baghdads nizamiyya library and was horrified. Apr 16, 2014 alia muhammad baker is the librarian of basra, iraq, during a time of war.
This lesson also has geography, writing, science, and math extension activities. The library has books in hundreds of different languages and even has a 700 year old book on prophet muhammad. So she started taking the books home a few at a time to keep them safe. For fourteen years, her library has been a meeting place for. Throughout history books and sometimes the people who read them have faced danger. This is a true story about a brave woman, alia baker, who defied the bombs and bullets surrounding her, in order to save the precious books of her beloved library in basra. As the war in iraq approaches her city, she wonders what will.
Basra is also iraqs main port, although it does not have deep water access, which is handled at the port of umm qasr the city is one of the ports from which the fictional sinbad the sailor journeyed. Sittis secrets aladdin picture books nye, naomi shihab, carpenter, nancy on. Jun 16, 2014 excellent contemporary realistic fiction picture books for grades 23. Alia muhammad baker chief librarian of al basrah iraq central library, cultural heroine middle. Alia muhammad baker has a career as a librarian but a passion for her people and culture. This is a beautiful story of an amazing woman who saved the heart of her library from the destruction of the war in iraq. Usmc sniper legend carlos hathcock his own words complete 1993 interview duration. In the afghan city of herat, little nasreens father is abducted by taliban soldiers.
The story of a librarian in basra, iraq, named alia muhammad baker, who took it upon herself to save the 30,000. Lesson plan for the librarian of basra the center for. This book should be required reading for all students so they can appreciate the value of knowledge, history, peace, and books, and to respect librarians who go out of their. This narrative biography tells the story of alia with beautiful yet simple words and pictures. Its the true story of alia muhammad baker, a librarian in basra in iraq who risked her life to shelter and shuttle books in her library during the iraq war. Knowing that war is on the horizon, alia wants to move her precious books to safety, including a 700yearold biography of muhammad. She loves the library and the books that it contains. With limited text and folk artstyle illustrations, author and illustrator jeanette winter relates the dramatic true story of how one determined woman helped save the basra central librarys books during the invasion of iraq. The story of a librarian in basra, iraq, named alia muhammad baker, who took it upon herself to save the 30,000 new and ancient books in her library. In spite of the governments refusal to help, she moved. The librarian of basra is especially appropriate for younger children with its colorful stylized illustrations and simple text. Alia muhammad baker also spelled baqer was the chief librarian in the al basrah central library, basra, iraq. Basra is a port city, in the sand swept country of iraq. With the help of friends, she is able to save 70% of the collection before the library is bombed.
In spite of the governments refusal to help, she moved the books into a nearby restaurant only nine days before the library burned to. See more ideas about books, realistic fiction and childrens books. The librarian of basra by jeanette winter and a graphic novel, alias mission, by mark alan stamaty. So begins this moving tale of one librarians attempts to save the beloved books in her library as war threatens. The librarian, alia muhammad baker, tells of an instruction from the koran, the religious text of islam. When the governor of basra refuses her request to move the books to a safe place, alia takes matters into her own hands. Fairbridge festivals program is guided by its constitution. Alia muhammad baker chief librarian of al basrah iraq.
787 1046 1407 1057 392 196 490 1233 1114 1092 200 1600 347 679 279 459 1293 1543 616 1172 969 437 768 534 274 424 238 1596 424 835 898 1147 1048 1268 176 862 857 850 699 1125 503 459