They discuss matters of the world and matters of the spirit. The librarian of basra by jeanette winter, jeanette winter. Instead, cbs created a nonstory about a single book. May 07, 2012 reading of the book the librarian of basra. In an interview with the author of the librarian of basra, jeanette winter says that the idea that one person could.
Now war has come, and alia fears that the libraryalong with the thirty thousand books within itwill be destroyed forever. Sep 07, 20 alia muhammad baker is a librarian in basra, iraq. The librarian of basra a true story from iraq youtube. For fourteen years, her library has been a meeting place for those who love books. For fourteen years, her library has been a meeting place for. Fearing imminent war, alia muhammad baker takes matters into her own hands to save the books in her library. It might be presented as a childrens book, but this lovely story is out there for everyone. Alia muhammad baker is the reallife librarian of basra. I would like to help her get a bigger house and move the books. When war comes to basra, alia saves the books in the only way she can see. Iraqi librarian becomes cultural hero in 2 childrens.
Librarian of basra is the true story of a librarian who. Alia muhammad baker clearly loves her books more than anything in the world. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the librarian of basra. An authors note gives backgound at the end of the book. The author and illustrator, jeanette winter, begins her book with a quote from the librarian of basra. This book should be required reading for all students so they can appreciate the value of knowledge.
This book is the true story of alia muhammad baker, a librarian in basra iraq. Now the story of alia will be told for years through reading the librarian of basra by jeanette winter and alias mission by mark alan stamaty. Still, the librarians quiet bravery serves as a point of entry into a freighted topic, and young readers will be glad to learn that a portion of the books sales will go toward helping rebuild basras library. The librarian of basra by jeanette winter, jeanette. Living history is not always sweet, but winter, who has made beauty from contemporary horror in september roses p. The book is recommended reading on one of the modules created by expeditionary learning for the nys common core ela modules that have been endorsed for voluntary use by new york schools. So begins this moving tale of one librarians attempts to save the beloved books in her library as war threatens. 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. Appropriate for older elementary, middle, and high school students, the book opens by characterizing alia as a.
She chose an approved book, the librarian of basra by jeanette winter. Alia muhammad bakeralia muhammad baker is a librarian in basra, 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 before the. Lesson plan for the librarian of basra the center for. Alia muhammad baker also spelled baqer was the chief librarian in the al basrah central library, basra, iraq. In the koran, the first thing god said to muhammad was read.
Jul 23, 2011 the librarian of basra is especially appropriate for younger children with its colorful stylized illustrations and simple text. Lesson plan for the librarian of basra middle eastern studies. Vibrantly colored pastel acrylic paintings create a sense of distance from the most brutal horrors of war, while celebrating the courage of a brave woman. This librarian remembers reading it aloud to day care centers and after school groups back when he worked as a childrens librarian. Alia muhammad baker chief librarian of al basrah iraq central library, cultural heroine middle eastern. 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. Jun 28, 2019 the librarian of basra is as the subtitle states, a true story from iraq. Still, the librarian s quiet bravery serves as a point of entry into a freighted topic, and young readers will be glad to learn that a portion of the book s sales will go toward helping rebuild basra s library. This is a book about the war and how important books are to some people. In spite of the governments refusal to help, she moved the books into a nearby restaurant only nine days before the library burned to the ground. There is so much to learn about the middle eastern region and so little time to read. Jul 27, 2003 in the koran, the first thing god said to muhammad was read. Throughout history books and sometimes the people who read them have faced danger. So then she starts moving some of the books to her house.
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. When the country was invaded, alia, the librarian was worried about the books in her library. A true story from iraq jeanette winter, author and illustrator harcourt, inc. Alia muhammad baker is the librarian of basra, iraq. A basra librarian remembers how she moved 30,000 books out of the citys central library to a neighboring restaurant and later to her. As the war in iraq approaches her city, she wonders what will happen to the librarys thirty thousand books.
The librarian of basra by jeanette winter scholastic. This unique picture book was inspired by the stone artwork of syrian artist nizar ali. 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. They totally missed the point of the book and also the point of the lesson.
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. The librarian of basra is inspired by a 2003 new york times story about alia muhammad baker, who saved part of the basra librarys collection before the building was burned in a fire after. Alia muhammad baker chief librarian of al basrah iraq. Alia muhammad baker was the chief librarian of the central library in basra, iraq, a meeting place for many and quite near one of basra s best restaurants. Mark alan stamaty is a cartoonist, and alias mission tells the story through graphic cartoon panels. In spite of the governments refusal to help, she moved. When war seemed imminent, alia muhammad baker, chief librarian of basras central library, was determined to protect the librarys holdings. 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 before the war came and destroyed everything.
Questions and activities for the librarian of basra 1. As the war in iraq approaches her city, she wonders what will happen to the librarys thirty thousand books see all. In 2005 jeanette winter both wrote and illustrated a book that has made its readers look at libraries in a slightly different way, the librarian of basra. The librarian of basra is a true story that takes place in 2003 in the city of basra in the country of iraq. This is a reading lesson that integrates social studies and character education. The librarian of basra by jeanette winter kids book club. As a child she was told the story of the burning of baghdads nizamiyya library and was horrified. A true story of iraq, a picture book, is the story of how the librarian saved the librarys books after the invasion in 2003. Alia muhammad baker, the chief librarian of al basrah central library.
Iraqi librarian saved 30,000 books during 2003 invasion al. Baker, a 50yearold librarian in stout shoes, is the engineer of their underground railroad. The book is about a librarian who safeguards 30,000 books during the iraqi war. Alia muhammad baker is the librarian of basra, a port city in the sandswept country of iraq. It wasn t a quiet place, but a place to talk about the stories in the books. Then she hears people talk about the war and how they think its coming to basra. Libraries, saving books, war, middle east openingsynopsis. In the koran, the first thing god said to muhammad was re. A small group of parents in florida are threatening to ban a childrens book close to our hearts. The invasion of iraq by the allied forces reached basra on april 6.
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. Iraqi librarian saved 30,000 books during 2003 invasion. When the governor of basra refuses her request to move the books to a safe place, alia takes matters into her own hands. Alia muhammad baqer was the chief librarian in the al basrah central library in basra iraq. The book opens with a line from alia muhammad baker.
A true story from iraq, by jeanette winter is the true story of alia muhammad baker. Librarian of basra by jeanette winter, 9780152054458, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Florida parents try to ban childrens books set in iraq and. The library has books in hundreds of different languages and even has a 700 year old book on prophet muhammad. Alia states that in the koran, god told his messenger muhammad to read. 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. The librarian of basra is especially appropriate for younger children with its colorful stylized illustrations and simple text. Dec 20, 2004 grade 24 when war seemed imminent, alia muhammad baker, chief librarian of basra s central library, was determined to protect the librarys holdings. Apr 01, 20 she chose an approved book, the librarian of basra by jeanette winter. Grade 24 when war seemed imminent, alia muhammad baker, chief librarian of basras central library, was determined to protect the librarys holdings. Baqer saved around thirty thousand books from destruction during the iraq war, including a biography of muhammad from around 0.
She became worried about the books where she was head librarian. The librarian of basra is as the subtitle states, a true story from iraq. The librarian of basra by jeannette winter james h. Baker saved an estimated 30,000 books from destruction during the iraq war, including a biography of muhammad from around 0.
Florida parents try to ban childrens books set in iraq. Alia muhammad bakers library in basra, iraq, has been a meeting place for those who love books for the past fourteen years. Her library is a meeting place for all who love books. The invasion of iraq by the allied forces reached basra on april 6, 2003. Jul 20, 2015 the librarian of basra is inspired by a 2003 new york times story about alia muhammad baker, who saved part of the basra librarys collection before the building was burned in a fire after. Alia muhammad baker alia muhammad baker is a librarian in basra, iraq. This lesson also has geography, writing, science, and math extension activities. The lesson is written for fourth grade, but could definitely be modifiedchanged for the upper grade levels. Alia muhammed baker, known as the librarian of basra, saved many books from the iraq national library before it was burned in the war in 2003. Basra is a port city, in the sand swept country of iraq.
Children and adults will read these books to help them understand the sacrifice one woman made to keep literature alive through the ravages of war. Questions and activities for the librarian of basra. She is the head librarian of the basra city library. Her actions inspired two fabulous childrens books and earned her a place in the rich history of iraqi libraries.
Her library that has 30,000 books, is a meeting place for the book lovers of the city. Now war has come, and alia fears that the library along with the thirty thousand books within it will be destroyed forever. Under alia s leadership, the library was a place where doctors, lawyers, professors, students and artists met each afternoon. A day of the dead alphabet book, my name is georgia, and josefina. Presents the true story of how alia baker, the librarian of the basra library, and her friends managed to save the books of the library before the library was burned to the ground during the 2003 iraq war. Some parents were offended that their child 3rd grade would think that the us army was portrayed as aggressors.
A true story from iraq ebook written by jeanette winter. As the british forces stormed basra in early april, she spirited. The librarian, alia muhammad baker, tells of an instruction from the koran, the religious text of islam. Mar 17, 20 iraqi librarian saved 30,000 books during 2003 invasion.
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