Amanda Stjohn - How to Check Out a Book

How to Check
Out a Book

by Amanda StJohn
illustrated by Bob Ostrom

Published by The Childs World
1980 Lookout Drive Mankato, MN 56003-1705
800-599-READ www.childsworld.com

Acknowledgments
The Childs World : Mary Berendes, Publishing Director
The Design Lab: Design and production
Red Line Editorial: Editorial direction

Copyright 2013 by The Childs World
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be
reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means
without written permission from the publisher.

ISBN 9781614732495
LCCN 2012932864

Printed in the United States of America
Mankato, MN
July 2012
PA02127

About the Author

Amanda StJohn is an author and public librarian.
Shes fascinated by singing frogs and animal tracks
and enjoys apricot tea and knitting.

About the Illustrator

Bob Ostrom is an award-winning childrens
illustrator. His work has been featured in
more than two hundred childrens books and
publications. When Bob is not illustrating childrens
books you can usually find him in a classroom or
online teaching kids how to draw.

Opal Owl and Stew Rabbit loved story hour
at OHare Public Library. They sang songs
and danced. They made crafts. But best of
all, Miss Mantis, the childrens librarian, read
them stories.

Fee, fi, fo, fum! Miss Mantis read in her best
ogres voice.

When story hour ended, Opal and Stew
thanked Miss Mantis.

Stew said, I wish I could take that book
home with me.

Jack and the Beanstalk? asked Miss
Mantis. Of course you can borrow this book.

Stews nose twitched. You mean I can take
it home?

She means you can check it out, Opal
helped.

Check it out? Stew felt confused.
He thought books had to stay in the library.

Here, offered Opal, Ill show you.
Miss Mantis handed Opal the book. From

her mummy book bag, Opal pulled out a
library card. She took her book and her library
card to the front desk. Hello, Mr. Badger,
Opal greeted the librarian.

Hi, Opal, smiled Mr. Badger. May I have
your library card?

Opal gave Mr. Badger her library card.
He scanned the card with a red laser beam.
Blip! The computer bleeped.

Then Opal gave Mr. Badger her library
book. He scanned the book with the red laser
beam. Blip! The computer bleeped again.

How was story hour? Mr. Badger asked.
It was a hoot! whooped Opal.
Finally, a piece of paper popped up out of a

small printer. Here you go, Opal, chimed
Mr. Badger. Your book is due back in two weeks.

Now we can take it home, Opal said to Stew.

Thats it? Stew couldnt believe how easy
it was to check out a book.

Yeah! Opal spread her wings. Simple,
right?

Stew shook his head. I dont understand.
The computer went blip, blip thats all.
How did the computer know your name?

See this? Opal showed Stew her library card.
Its my bar code . Im the only one in the world
with this bar code. Wave it under the scanner
and blip! the computer knows my name.

Okay, Stew prodded. Then, how does the
computer know which book you want?

Opal laughed. Every book in the library has
its own bar code, too!

Really? exclaimed Stew. Thats brilliant!
I know, right? quipped Opal.

Mr. Badger? Stew asked. May I have a
library card?

Sure, said Mr. Badger. Your father just has
to agree.

Stew went and found his dad. May I have a
library card, pleeeeease?

You may, smiled Stews dad. Lets get you
signed up.

At the front desk, Mr. Badger handed Stews
father a piece of paper.

Will you fill out this application ? the
librarian asked.

Stew and Opal were very excited. Stew
hopped up and down boing, boing, boing .
Opal flapped her wings and a gust of wind blew
papers off the desk.

Uh, Mr. Badger, said Stews father. I think
I will sit down and fill this out.

Sitting at a round table, Mr. Rabbit read the
application aloud. Patrons name.

Whats a patron? asked Opal.
Mr. Rabbit answered, A patron borrows

library books. Ill write Stew Rabbit.

Mr. Rabbit read, Patrons address.
He wrote, 116 Carrot Patch Lane.

Stew read the next line. It said birthday.
March 26, said Stew.

Opal read the last line on the paper.
My child can use this library card.

I must sign there, explained Mr. Rabbit,
and he wrote his name down.

Stew gave Mr. Badger the application.
Mr. Badger gave Stew a library card. Sign
your name on it, he instructed.

Now that Stew had a card, he had to try it
out. Stew found a funny book. He took the book
and his library card to Mr. Badger. Mr. Badger
scanned Stews card with the red laser beam
blip! Then, he scanned the library books bar
code blip! A little piece of paper popped out of