The Man Who Saved Books by Lynn Plourde

The Man Who Saved Books by Lynn Plourde

One town’s trash becomes the dump man’s treasure in this inspiring tale by award-winning author Lynn Plourde. Mr. Pottle, who oversees the town landfill, just cannot bear to see books thrown out and destroyed, so he rescues and recycles them for the community to enjoy. When Mr. Pottle takes a fall one day and is injured, that community—especially the children—comes to his rescue. The townspeople bring books to speed his recovery—and are amazed to discover that the book-loving man cannot read. That’s when a town full of eager readers helps Mr. Pottle to fully enjoy his treasures.

Illustrations by Mary Beth Owens are packed with details that capture the chaos and beauty of a dump and show Mr. Pottle’s determination to let nothing of value to go to waste. Little ones will love the way favorite items keep showing up in different places around the dump.

An enjoyable picture book in its own right, The Man Who Saved Books also delivers a heartwarming message about the treasures to be found in books, in reading together, and in friendship.

Lynn Plourde is the author of more than thirty children’s books including Happy Birthday, Maine!, Baby Bear's Not Hibernating, Moose, of Course, and Lost Trail. Her books have received numerous awards, including a Lupine Honor, Maine Student Book Award, Maine Literary Award, and Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award. She lives in Winthrop, Maine.

Mary Beth Owens has illustrated numerous books for children and adults, including A Penny fora Hundred, which Smithsonian magazine selected for its annual list of Notable Books

for Children (1996); and The Story of the Sea Glass, which won the Maine Library Association’s

Golden Trap Award in 2003. She lives in Walpole, Maine.