Sandy Brehl's Reviews > Behind My Doors: The Story of the World's Oldest Library

The oldest library in the world, Located in the Middle East in a bustling medina, the oldest are in an ancient urban community. Before 900AD, young woman Fatima had the bold and brilliant idea to form a school and reading area, which formed the roots of the eventual sprawling and remarkable library that set a model for all others to follow. The text allows the library its own voice, personifying centuries of history so that young readers might find greater empathy and connection to the glory days and the eventual disrepair of a classic structure and its purpose. The illustrations allow readers to immerse themselves in the tile art, architecture, and mosaic beauty that composes the entire structure, as well as the surrounding community members. This is a valuable book and story, one that will expand any Western-centric attitudes about literacy and literature.