Book Descriptions
for Digging for Words by Angela Burke Kunkel and Paola Escobar
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
A fictionalized story based on José Alberto Gutiérrez , a man who, in his job as a garbage collector in Bogotá, Colombia, began collecting cast-off books and started a library for his neighborhood. The narrative begins with a small boy, also named José, eagerly awaiting Saturday before introducing his friend, Señor José, and his work. Although Bogotá has libraries, it doesn't have enough to reach the huge population, including the barrio where Little José lives, and he looks forward to visiting Señor José's library every weekend. The engaging writing uses descriptive language to bring the people and the city they live in to life. The often captivating artwork give readers a good sense of the vibrant Colombian capital, and the particular neighborhood where the two Josés live. An author's note offers additional information about the real José Gutiérrez, including photographs of him in his truck and greeting local children in his library. (Ages 5-8)
CCBC Choices 2021. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2021. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
A gorgeous and inspiring picture book based on the life of José Alberto Gutiérrez, a garbage collector in Bogotá, Colombia who started a library with a single discarded book found on his route.
In the city of Bogata, in the barrio of La Nueva Gloria, there live two Joses. One is a boy who dreams of Saturdays-- that's the day he gets to visit Paradise, the library. The second Jose is a garbage collector. From dusk until dawn, he scans the sidewalks as he drives, squinting in the dim light, searching household trash for hidden treasure . . . books! Some are stacked in neat piles, as if waiting for José́. Others take a bit more digging. Ever since he found his first book, Anna Karenina, years earlier, he's been collecting books--thick ones and thin ones, worn ones and almost new ones-- to add to the collection in his home. And on Saturdays, kids like little Jose run to the steps of Paradise to discover a world filled with books and wonder.
With an evocative text by a debut author, and rich, stunning illustrations from an up-and-coming Colombian illustrator, here is a celebration of perseverance, community, and the power of books.
In the city of Bogata, in the barrio of La Nueva Gloria, there live two Joses. One is a boy who dreams of Saturdays-- that's the day he gets to visit Paradise, the library. The second Jose is a garbage collector. From dusk until dawn, he scans the sidewalks as he drives, squinting in the dim light, searching household trash for hidden treasure . . . books! Some are stacked in neat piles, as if waiting for José́. Others take a bit more digging. Ever since he found his first book, Anna Karenina, years earlier, he's been collecting books--thick ones and thin ones, worn ones and almost new ones-- to add to the collection in his home. And on Saturdays, kids like little Jose run to the steps of Paradise to discover a world filled with books and wonder.
With an evocative text by a debut author, and rich, stunning illustrations from an up-and-coming Colombian illustrator, here is a celebration of perseverance, community, and the power of books.
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.
