Book description: “Ronan was a mighty barbarian.
He invaded. He raided. And back home, he traded.
He always found the greatest treasures.
Until one day, Conan found something no barbarian wants:
A BOOK.

This humorous picture book from sister duo Tara Luebbe and Becky Cattie and illustrator Victoria Maderna follows Ronan the Barbarian as he he grows from being just a rough-​and-​tumble warrior to a rough-​and-​tumble warrior who loves books.

At first, his fellow barbarians are skeptical of his newfound passion for reading, but in the end, even they aren’t immune to the charms of a good book.”

Reading Activities inspired by Ronan the Librarian:

• Before Reading–From looking at the front cover: 
  • What do you think the book will be about based on the title, Ronan the Librarian?
  • Can you guess what kind of character Ronan is from the front cover? What clues do you see?
  • What do you think barbarians do? How do you imagine them acting?
  • Do you think a barbarian can also be a librarian? Why or why not?
  • Why do you think books might be important to Ronan?
  • What kind of adventures do you think Ronan might have with books?
  • What questions would you like to ask the author or the illustrator before reading the book?
• After Reading–Now that you’ve read the story: 
  • What made Ronan change his mind about books?
  • How did Ronan’s friends react to his love of reading? Why do you think they felt that way?
  • How did the illustrations add to the story? Did you notice the book-​eating goat?
  • What do you think is the main message of the story?
  • What would you have done to convince the other barbarians to read?
  • How do you think Ronan felt at the end of the book when everyone started reading?
  • Would you recommend this book to a friend? What part would you tell them about first?
• Create Your Own Library Sign: Design a library sign that Ronan might use. Think of fun phrases like “Come Read! Free Mead!” or make up your own! Use markers, crayons, or colored pencils to make it bright and inviting.
• Build a Book Fort: Just like Ronan stacked his books all over, create your own book fort! Use books, blankets, and pillows to make a cozy space where you can read. Once it’s built, choose a book and enjoy reading in your special fort.
• Draw Your Barbarian Character: Imagine you are a character in Ronan’s village. What would you look like as a barbarian? Draw yourself with armor, a wild boar companion, or other fun details. Don’t forget to add a favorite book under your arm!
• Read-​Aloud Role Play: Pretend you’re Ronan reading a thrilling story to the other barbarians. Choose your favorite book or passage and practice reading it aloud with dramatic voices and expressions to make it exciting, just like Ronan did.
• Write Your Own Barbarian Story: Imagine that you are a friend of Ronan’s who also discovers a love of books. Write a short story about what book you found and how it changed you. Did it lead to new adventures or ideas? Share your story with someone you know or read it aloud to your class or family.
• Further Reading: If you loved Ronan the Librarian, you might also enjoy other books about libraries and the magic of books.