Illustration coming soon

The Library Book Under the Bed

Ages 6-9 | Story and 9 activities

On Monday, Rochel finds it. The library book is under her bed, wedged between a shoebox and a pile of old socks.

Her heart drops. The book is three weeks overdue.

She pulls it out and wipes off the dust. It is a mystery about a lighthouse. She loved it so much that she read it twice. Then she lost it. For three weeks, she told herself, I'll find it soon. Then she stopped looking.

Now she holds it in her hands, and a heavy feeling settles in her stomach.

The school library has a rule. Books have to be returned in two weeks. After that, you can't borrow another until you return the book and speak to Mrs. Gold, the librarian.

Rochel imagines walking into the library. She imagines Mrs. Gold's face. She will be angry. Maybe she will send a note home. Maybe the whole class will find out.

She stuffs the book back under the bed.

But all day Tuesday, the book sits in her mind. At lunch, she can barely eat. At night, she can't stop thinking about it.

On Wednesday, she tells her older sister Chani. "I have a problem. I don't know what to do."

Chani listens. Then she says, "Let's make a plan. What's the problem exactly?"

"I have a book that's three weeks late."

"Okay. What are the facts?"

"I found it. It's fine, just a bit dusty. I'm scared to bring it back because I think Mrs. Gold will be mad."

"Is it a fact that she will be mad, or a guess?"

Rochel pauses. "A guess."

"Okay. What are some things you could do?"

They make a list. One: leave the book in the library bin in the morning, with no note. Two: bring it to Mrs. Gold and explain. Three: ask Mommy to write a note. Four: keep hiding it.

"Which one fixes the problem all the way?" asks Chani.

Rochel looks at the list. Number four is the worst. Number one will return the book, but she will still feel like she has hidden. Number two is the scariest, but it also feels like the right one.

"Number two," she says. "But I need to practice what to say."

Chani helps her practice. "I found the book under my bed. I'm sorry it's late. I'll pay any fee, and I'd like to borrow a new one if I can."

On Thursday morning, Rochel walks into the library, holding the book with both hands. Her knees feel shaky.

"Good morning, Mrs. Gold," she says. She takes a deep breath. "I found this under my bed. It's three weeks late. I'm sorry."

Mrs. Gold looks at the book. She looks at Rochel. Then she smiles.

"Thank you for bringing it back," she says. "Do you know how many books come back late every year? Dozens. What matters is that you came to tell me yourself."

"Is there a fee?" Rochel asks.

"For a school library, no fee. But I'd love for you to help me put the new books on the shelf on Friday. Would you like to do that?"

Rochel's face breaks into a big smile. "Yes, please."

"And," says Mrs. Gold, "you can borrow another book today. May I suggest the next in the lighthouse series?"

Rochel can hardly believe it. She walks out with a new book under her arm and a light feeling in her chest.

That night, she puts a small basket next to her bed. She labels it "Library Books." From now on, she knows where they will be.

On Friday she puts the new books on the shelf in order, spines out, with the lighthouse series at the end. She checks her basket that night. The new book is in it.