Digging for Words: Jos Alberto Gutirrez and the Library He Built [Hardcover]

A gorgeous and inspiring picture book based on the life of José Alberto Gutiérrez, a garbage collector in Bogotá, Colombia who started a library with a single discarded book found on his route.

In the city of Bogata, in the barrio of La Nueva Gloria, there live two Joses. One is a boy who dreams of Saturdays-- that's the day he gets to visit Paradise, the library. The second Jose is a garbage collector. From dusk until dawn, he scans the sidewalks as he drives, squinting in the dim light, searching household trash for hidden treasure . . . books! Some are stacked in neat piles, as if waiting for José́. Others take a bit more digging. Ever since he found his first book, Anna Karenina, years earlier, he's been collecting books--thick ones and thin ones, worn ones and almost new ones-- to add to the collection in his home. And on Saturdays, kids like little Jose run to the steps of Paradise to discover a world filled with books and wonder.

With an evocative text by a debut author, and rich, stunning illustrations from an up-and-coming Colombian illustrator, here is a celebration of perseverance, community, and the power of books.An American Library Association Notable Book
A Kirkus Best Picture Book of 2020
A Junior Library Guild Selection

The inspiring story of a man who believes in the power of books and the importance of community.  —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

“An inviting and generous story that will be a pleasure to read aloud.” —School Library Journal, Starred Review

This amiable picture book offers children glimpses of Colombia as well as a role model who values books and enjo