Draft:Digging for Words: Jose Gutierrez and the Library He Built

Digging for Words: José Gutiérrez and the Library He Built

Author	Angela Kunkel
Illustrator	Paola Escobar
Language	English and Spanish
Genre	Children's Picture Book
Publisher	Random House/ Schwarts & Wade
Publication date	September 8, 2020
Publication place	Canada
ISBN	9781984892638

Plot

A little boy named José, who lives in Bogotá, Colombia, plays and goes to school while waiting for Saturday - a special day for him. In the same city, an older José also anticipates Saturday, preparing for the weekend. Señor José is a garbage man who collects trash throughout the whole city of Bogotá. While on his route, he digs through the trash to find unwanted books and gives them a new home. When Saturday arrives, the children of the town all go to Señor José's "paradise," a library in his own home for the children to connect to a story and find rest at the end of the week. The books are stacked from the floor to the ceiling, every nook and cranny covered. From picture books to elaborate textbooks, there is a book for anyone. Señor José and little José read a story together and each find meaning through their unique perspectives. The book, "El Tesoro" (The Treasure), takes them to a magical land with mermaids and rainbow fish, where each can find their treasure. José takes home a new book and reads eagerly. He dreams of the magical story throughout the night. Sunday arrives, and José longs for Saturday and a new story to find him again.

Lead

Digging for Words: José Alberto Gutiérrez and the Library He Built, is a modern children’s book by Angela Kunkel, illustrated by local Bogotá, Colombian artist Paola Escobar. It was published in 2020 by Random House/ Schwarts & Wade Publishing in Canada. Available in both English and Spanish, this book tells the true story of a Bogotá, Colombia community member, José Gutiérrez, and his mission to share the joys of literature with the young people in his small town. As a nighttime garbage man, he collects abandoned books and adds them to the expansive library in his home that he opens every Saturday. One of the children Gutiérrez directly affects is a young boy in the city, also named José, who looks forward all week to Saturday; the day he gets to go to Gutiérrez’s library.

Even before the book was released, many were starting to become aware of José Gutiérrez’s efforts to better his community. The Lord of Books became popular in 2017, as many different news organizations were covering his story and his movement, La Fuerza de las Palabras (The Strength/Power of Words). Even though he began his project 20 years prior, organizations such as BBC, Al Jazeera, and CGTN America took interest in Gutiérrez and aimed to spread his efforts during the years of 2017-2018. Kunkel was inspired by José's story and decided to create a children's book to share his story with all generations. This book has received much praise for its discussion of social impact, community engagement, and representation of the Colombian community of Bogotá. It has won a Kirkus Best Picture Book (2020), International Latino Book Award (2021), Américas Award (2021), and ALSC Notable Book (2021). Many scholarly authors have observed an important idea in the book that “one person’s discarded items can become treasures for another”, which promotes the importance of literacy.

Themes

Literacy

One of the main themes in Digging for Words: José Gutiérrez and the Library He Built, is the value of literacy—not just as an individual skill but as a key to opportunity, empowerment, and personal growth. The book emphasizes the importance of nurturing a love of reading, which can open doors to greater understanding, knowledge, and possibility. Lettycia Terrones, a writer with The Horn Book Magazine, states that this theme of the importance of literature is framed by the idea that “one person’s discarded items can become treasures for another”. José Gutiérrez finds and rehomes books that were garbage for people in the “wealthier areas”, but a world of paradise for him and the children in his neighborhood. Gutiérrez’s library was created in his “impoverished community” where access to books and educational resources is limited. He recognized that literacy is a bridge to opportunity, and by providing access to books, José is giving children the tools they need to unlock new opportunities. This access to books nurtures curiosity, creativity, and a sense of discovery in the children of Bogotá. The library becomes a place where learning is not a chore but a joyful pursuit. The story emphasizes that literacy is a lifelong journey that can continue to open new doors throughout a person's life. As shown by the parallel between Señor José and José, appreciation for literature lasts throughout life and can be instilled in younger generations to promote connection across all ages. In the story, books “transport readers” into other worlds—whether that’s through fiction, history, or poetry. For children in the neighborhood, reading offers a way to explore different perspectives and expand their imaginations. José’s library is not just a place to improve academic skills; it is also a place where people can connect emotionally to stories that inspire, comfort, and entertain. José looks forward to the day he can return to Señor’s library, dreaming of the stories he picked out each week.

Community and Generosity

This theme is vividly portrayed through José Alberto Gutiérrez’s “labor[s] of love” to uplift his neighborhood in Bogotá. Despite his modest means as a garbage collector, José's vision of creating a library for the children in his community stems from a deep sense of responsibility and care for others. He sacrifices his own space and time, "work[ing] extra hours in his physically demanding job and still manag[ing] to sift through litter bins for books” to provide children with resources that foster learning and creativity. Gutiérrez’s generosity shines in the countless hours he spends rescuing discarded books and opening his home as a haven for learning and inspiration. This act of giving fosters a spirit of togetherness, as the library becomes a shared resource, a symbol of hope, and a gathering place, not just for books, but for dreams and aspirations. Publishers Weekly states that a percentage of the proceeds gained from Kunkel’s book sales “supports Gutiérrez's foundation, La Fuerza de las Palabras”, revealing that through José’s selfless generosity, others are being generous as well to support Gutiérrez’s community and mission. By prioritizing the needs of others, José illustrates how individual acts of kindness and community-oriented efforts can bridge gaps in access to education and unite people in a collective journey toward growth and opportunity. Kunkel emphasizes how José’s small, yet significant efforts, such as how he has given numerous books to “underfunded schools in Colombia”, ripple outward, benefitting the entire community, especially children who yearn to expand their imaginations and knowledge. Through vibrant illustrations and poignant storytelling, Kunkel and Escobar convey Bogotá as a “role model”, and that communities thrive when individuals commit to collective well-being, making José’s library a symbol of hope, resilience, and shared humanity.