Review of I’m So Happy You’re Here, written by Mychal Threets, illustrated by Lorraine Nam
A Celebration of Library Joy
written by Mychal Threets
illustrated by Lorraine Nam
Random House, 2026. 32 pages.
Review written February 25, 2026, from a library book.
Starred Review
Hooray! Mychal Threets’ first picture book is here, and I’m so happy!
Mychal Threets was a viral social media sensation and offered the best stuff on Twitter back in the day. Now he’s the host of the new updated Reading Rainbow and a literacy ambassador for PBS. [And apparently very active on Instagram. I’m going to have to get back on Instagram.] The content Mychal offered when he was doing his own posts was all about library joy and wonderful upbeat stories about the wonderful library kids he encountered while working in a public library. His own joyful attitude – while at the same time acknowledging he suffers from depression – absolutely won my heart. And of course I completely agree with his message – that libraries are a place where everyone belongs. In fact, back about fifteen years ago when my own library was facing budget cuts (and I lost my job for six months), I started a blog series I called Librarians Help – trying to tell some heart-warming stories about people getting help in the library. Mychal did the same idea, but executed so much better! I was just happy to see it done. [Hmm. Hold on. I guess it was never a blog series, because there are only two such entries. Maybe I tried to make it a hashtag? Ha! That’s it. Search #LibrariansHelp – and I found tweets from as far back as 2012.]
But this book! It’s about how everyone is welcome at the library.
Hi, library kid!
I’m so happy you’re here!
Welcome to your library.The library is here for you,
a place where you’ll always belong.You belong here
with your mom.
You belong here
with your dads.
You belong here
with your abuela.
And of course all the pictures here show a wonderful, welcoming library, with Mychal himself welcoming people.
There’s more about how you belong just as you are. Then it goes on to talk about how the library has books and so much more, talking about library programs. And it continues by telling the reader how easy it is to get a library card.
You having your best day at the library – that’s what I call library joy.
We now have a perfect picture book for every time a librarian gives a preschool or elementary school library tour. Spread the joy!
Mychal’s Instagram
lorrainenam.com
Find this review on Sonderbooks at: www.sonderbooks.com/Picture_Books/im_so_happy_youre_here.html
Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.
Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.
Subscribe for more reviews and talk about books.
Join the conversation: What did you think of this book?









