Luis loves books. He loves them so much, he figures out a way to share his passion with people living in rural areas of Colombia. Loading books into crates he’s built for the backs of two burros, Alfa and Beto, Luis creates a “Biblioburro”—the Burro Library. Every week Luis and his Biblioburro travel “across the countryside to faraway villages in the lonely hills.” The trips are long and sometimes dangerous, but once he arrives at his destination, Luis insists on reading aloud to the children who gather before they choose books to borrow. An author’s note tells of the real Luis Soriana, who has delivered books by burro to remote Colombian villages since 2000. Acrylic paint with pen-and-ink illustrations depict Luis’s weekly expeditions with lush colors and inviting detail. (Ages 3–7)

Based on the program started in 2000, Winter describes and celebrates the efforts of Luis Soriano to reach children in a remote northern Colombian re gion and to share his passion for reading with them. By transporting books via donkey, children are able to read, return, and exchange books via a makeshift mobile library. Illustrations done in pen and ink and acrylic produce a feltlike effect that suggests bright and lush surroundings as well as demonstrates the way in which stories and books can color and enrich their young recipients. bef

A man, his burros, and his books bring joy to children in remote Colombian villages in this inspiring book based on a true story by celebrated picture book creator Jeanette Winter.

Luis loves to read, but soon his house in Colombia is so full of books there’s barely room for the family. What to do? Then he comes up with the perfect solution—a traveling library! He buys two donkeys—Alfa and Beto—and travels with them throughout the land, bringing books and reading to the children in faraway villages.

Complete with an author’s note about the real man on whom this story is based.