Library Loot ~ only one book this week

The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq ~ by Jeanette Winter, 2005, children's, 7/10

Alia Muhammad Baker is a librarian in Basra, Iraq.  The book begins with a quote from her:  "In the Koran, the first thing God said to Muhammad was 'Read.'"  For fourteen years, her library has been a meeting place for those who love books.  Until now.  Now war has come, and Alia fears that the library — along with the thirty thousand books within it — will be destroyed forever.  In a war-stricken country where civilians — especially women — have little power, this true story about a librarian's struggle to save her community's priceless collection of books reminds us all how, throughout the world, the love of literature and the respect for knowledge know no boundaries.  Illustrated by Jeanette Winter in bright acrylic and ink.

This page shows my favorite illustration, mostly for what it says.  Or rather, for what this librarian DID.  Remember, this is a true story.  In case you can't read the tiny illustration, here's what the page says:

"So Alia takes matters into her own hands.
Secretly, she brings books home every night,
filling her car late after work."

There's something in this picture I didn't notice until I put it in this post. Do you see the star and crescent symbol that became associated with Islam in the mid-20th century?  It's orange, through all the other stars are white.

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire @ The Captive Reader and Linda @ Silly Little Mischief that encourages us to share the names of books we checked out of the library.  See what others got this week.