Resources
The Librarian of Basra
by Jeanette Winter
Show the children the front cover of the book. The cover depicts Alia amid piles of books. Ask them what they think the story will be about.
Read them the title and subtitle and the name of the author and illustrator. Ask them, 'what's a librarian?' 'What does a librarian do?'
Have they heard of Iraq? What is Iraq? Why has it been in the news? You might show them Iraq on a globe or world map, and ask what they know about the country. Explain that Basra is a city in Iraq.
Now show the children the back cover. The back cover shows a building in flames. Ask them if that changes their ideas of what the story is about.
Read the story through, pausing only if the students have questions.
When you've finished reading the story, ask an open-ended question: What do you want to say about the story? What struck you? Do you have questions? Note their questions on the board or a piece of chart paper.
Check the children's comprehension:
- Who is the story mainly about?
- What is Alia worried about?
- When the governor won't help her, what does she do?
- Who helps her?
- How many books does she save?
Help the students deepen their understanding:
- Why are books important?
- Why was it so important to Alia and her neighbours to save the books?
- Why do you think the governor didn't help her?
- How does Alia feel as the war rages on and the library burns down?
- What gives Alia hope toward the end of the story?
- What's a hero?
- Do you think Alia is a hero? Why? Why not?
Help the students connect the story to their own lives:
- Alia worried that the books might be destroyed in the war. Are there things going on in the world that you worry about? What are they?
- Toward the end of the story, Alia dreams of peace and a new library. What are your dreams for the future?
Help students tap their power to make a difference:
- Alia and her friends worked together to rescue the books. What qualities do they have that enabled them to make a difference?
- Has there been a time when you made the world better by something you did? If the students can't think of anything, remind them that small things count, for example, helping your mother, sending a card to someone who is sick.
- What qualities do you have that enabled you to make a difference?
This story is also told in cartoon form with a little more detail in the book below. You may want to look at this as a follow-up activity.
Alia's Mission: Saving the Books of Iraq
by Mark Alan Stamaty
Before you begin with the book, you may want to investigate what the children already know about Iraq, by creating a web.
Read the introduction to the book inside the front cover. Then read the story to the class and show them the cartoons.
Ask them if they have learned anything new that they didn't know before, or if they have any new questions to add to the web.
This can then form an initial basis for research.
Drama Activity:
Alia goes to see a local official at the office of the Governor of Basra to ask for his help to save the books.
In pairs the children can role-play the discussion, thinking of ways to justify each argument. After a few minutes, they should reverse role and argue the other side. Are the arguments changed? Do their opinions change in any way? Could they come up with a compromise solution?
Writing:
Alia is seen as a hero. Write a newspaper report praising her activities. The children could include any information they have learned from their research. There is more information in the back of Alia's Mission about previous destruction of libraries in history.