SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Fusenews
  • Reviews
  • Librarian Previews
  • Best Books
    • Top 100
    • Best Books of 2022
    • Best Books of 2021
    • Best Books of 2020
    • Best Books of 2019
    • Best Books of 2018
    • Best Books of 2017
    • Best Books of 2016
    • Best Books of 2015
    • Best Books of 2014
    • Best Books of 2013
  • Fuse 8 n’ Kate
  • Videos
  • Press Release Fun

November 13, 2014 by Betsy Bird

Library Lions in Books for Kids

November 13, 2014 by Betsy Bird   5 comments

It’s not widely known but here is a true fact about my current job – I don’t work in the big stone library with the big stone lions anymore.  Surprising, right?  I still have my job, it’s true.  But about a year ago I was moved with the rest of my department to Long Island City where I’ve been happily ensconced ever since.  I like LIC but I do occasionally miss working behind world famous felines.

Their official names are Patience and Fortitude, though they were originally named Lord and Lady Astor.  That fact, as well as many others, can be found in the book Top Cats: The Life and Times of the New York Public Library Lions by Susan G. Larkin.  It’s a book dedicated entirely to them but it’s hardly the only book to contain them.  Over the years I’ve noticed many a children’s book that has made mention, even if it was brief, of the lions.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Up for debate is the book Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen.  My system’s Library Shop does a swift business with that title even though it never directly references either Patience or Fortitude.  However, that is not to say that the big stone fellows were not without influence on the title.  Said Michelle recently:

“My dad likes to tell me about the first time we walked by the 42nd street library when I was little, when he pointed out the lions to me and I was immediately and thoroughly enchanted. I didn’t write my picture book Library Lion until many years later, of course, but I believe that initial connection between the lions and the magic of the library stayed with me and helped to inspire the story. Those majestic stone guardians were (and remain!) such a welcoming presence to all who wish to enter; I wanted to capture that feeling of welcome in my book, and it seemed only natural that the visitor in question should be a lion himself.”

On that note, here is a list (by no means exhaustive) of some of the children’s books that take a trip to NYC’s most famous library and its lions:

Coral Reefs by Jason Chin

What starts as a routine research trip in the Rose Reading Room of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building turns into a raucous underwater adventure. If you’ve ever wondered what the main branch of NYPL would look like if whales crashed through its windows and the entire edifice sank to the bottom of the sea, now is your chance to find out.

Hilary and the Lions by Frank DeSaix, ill. Debbie Durland DeSaix

Patience and Fortitude get to star in their own picture book this time. When a visitor to the city loses her parents, she finds that at night those stalwart guardians of knowledge are willing to carry her back to the people she loves.

I’m Going to New York to Visit the Lions by Harriet Ziefert, ill. Tanya Roitman

Originally published in 2005 (before the Children’s Center at 42nd Street had a chance to move into its current location in 2008) the book isn’t entirely up-to-date on its library info. Apparently the whole building is gilded in gold and people “cannot take the books home”. Now with the addition of the children’s circulating collection, books can indeed be checked out of the ground floor location.

A Walk in New York by Salvatore Rubbino

Take a walking tour of the city and be sure you catch a glimpse of the front of the Stephen A. Schwarzman building when you do! You just can’t miss those lions.

Inside Outside Book of Libraries by Julie Cummins and Roxie Munro

Need I say more?

So fess up, folks.  I know I’m missing stuff.  Can you tell what it might be?

Filed under: Uncategorized

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
NYPLPatience and Fortitude

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

March 2023

Announcing the Stinetinglers Winner! The Kettle's Dark Secret by Clara J.

by Betsy Bird

March 2023

Bologna Presentations: IBBY Doing the Good Work That Needs to Be Done, Worldwide

by Betsy Bird

February 2023

Sydney Taylor Book Blog Award Tour Interview: Featuring Mari Lowe of Aviva Vs. the Dybbuk!

by Betsy Bird

January 2023

The Top Ten Most Disappointing Edibles and Potables of Children's Literature

by Betsy Bird

January 2023

Announcing the 2023 Newbery/Caldecott/YMA Pre-Game Show!

by Betsy Bird

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

BLUE FLOATS AWAY Turns Two!

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Faced with a Parenting Dilemma? Write a Book About It! Jacob Grant Comes By to Talk About NO FAIR

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Pardalita | Preview

by Brigid Alverson

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Write What You Know, a guest post by MADE OF STARS author Jenna Voris

by Karen Jensen, MLS

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey Try Something New

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Carole Lindstrom Turns Family History into a Song of Hope

Star Magnet: Neal Porter, the VP/Publisher of His Eponymous Imprint, Discusses "Good Friction" and the Projects that Attract Him

Making a Mark on Musical History: Flack, Franklin, and Beach | Biography Spotlight

An Exclusive Excerpt & Interview: 'Odder' by Katherine Applegate

Exploring Civil Rights, Year By Year!

SPONSORED

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Monica says

    November 13, 2014 at 10:01 am

    My hometown library in Watertown, NY has lions out front and whenever the front doors were open (Ahhh the challenges of marble staircases in Northern NY!), I would try to give them a pat. When I was little and these things were more or less allowed, we climbed on them. When I went on my first NYC visit at age 31, I told my husband we had to go to the library. I didn’t tell him that I mostly wanted to see those lions!!

  2. ChrisinNY says

    November 13, 2014 at 10:48 am

    My daughter and I used to read the Hilary and the Lions title. I remember we liked it a lot.

  3. Kristin says

    November 14, 2014 at 8:05 am

    The lions make an appearance at the end of The Search for WondLa.

    • Elizabeth Bird says

      November 14, 2014 at 9:24 am

      I thought about including novels as well, but ultimately decided to stick with picture books. But the WondLa lions are great. There’s no image of them, is there? I remember there being one but when I checked recently no go.

  4. sdn says

    November 21, 2014 at 12:17 pm

    One of my favorites is Delia Sherman’s story “CATNYP,” about an alternate version of the NYPL. The story appears in Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling’s THE FAERY REEL, and helped inspire Delia’s novels CHANGELING and THE MAGIC MIRROR OF THE MERMAID QUEEN.

    Scroll down: http://www.sff.net/people/kushnerSherman/Sherman/writing.htm#YA

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • External Links

    • A Fuse #8 Production Reviews
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023