Leilong the Library Bus
A library-loving dinosaur reminds us how it feels to be transported by story in this picture book for young children.
Leilong’s friends are taking him to story time at the library. But it’s difficult for a large, clumsy brontosaurus without a library card to follow all the rules. Especially when enthusiastic Leilong gets caught up in the story and joins in, threatening to flatten the library. Is Leilong too big for the library, or is the library too small?
With vibrant and vintage-like illustrations, Children of all ages will love this enthusiastic, bumbling dinosaur who just wants, like all of us, to hear a good story. Perfect to read aloud or together with younger dino fans and book-lovers, or for readers aged 5-7.
Resources
Creators
Julia Liu has worked as an editor of children’s fiction at several of Taiwan’s biggest and most prestigious publishers, and has published picture books, illustrated biographies and a collection of fairy tales.
Bei Lynn is an award-winning Taiwanese illustrator who has written and illustrated over 20 picture books, stories, magazines and comics. Her works have been recognised by various awards and honours.
Other books by Julia Lui:
Leilong Is Too Long!
Reviews
A heart-warming, humorous read. Readers will instantly fall in love with this likeable (slightly goofy) brontosaurus — the juxtaposition of him and the quiet setting of the library is ridiculously delightful
Reading Time
Text and illustrations are perfectly matched here. Via Wang’s smooth translation from Chinese, Liu employs simple, direct third-person narration, enhanced by intriguing dialogue and winning characters. Lynn’s intricate cartoons provide scope and setting and much of the fun as well as thought-provoking details.
Kirkus Reviews
Leilong is a cheerful, bright-green standout among bustling cityscapes and quiet interiors with dark line art and crayon-like smears of rose and dusty blue.
Foreword Reviews
The illustrations are cartoon-like and full of detail which invites time to be spent looking at all the different people depicted on each page. Many people and animals can be spotted reacting to the strange vision of a Brontosaurus transporting children and books around a busy city. The changing, very human emotions of Leilong are beautifully depicted as he moves from delighted expectation to confusion on his rejection to contentment and happiness on his inclusion and acceptance. A sweet story with fun illustrations!
ReadPlus
I love children’s books about libraries, and this offering written and illustrated in Taiwan was a real treat…This picture book is a celebration of libraries and storytelling in general and manages to show how children can be brought together and yet transported by stories. I also enjoyed seeing Leilong’s desire to learn more about himself and other dinosaurs by reading dinosaur books. Leilong the Library Bus by Julia Liu and Bei Lynn is recommended for readers aged 3 years and above and the observant reader will find much to enjoy in the background of the illustrations.
Carpe Librum
