The Yellow Notes

Grace worked at the small library in Bar Harbor, Maine. It was a quiet job, and she liked it. Every morning, she opened the return box and put the books back on the shelves.

One Monday in October, she found something strange. Inside a book about whales, there was a small yellow note. It said: “Did you like this book? Then try the book about sharks on the next shelf. It's even better!”

Grace smiled. Maybe a reader forgot it there.

But the next day, there was another yellow note in another book. Every note was short and friendly, and every note was in the same careful handwriting.

People started to talk about the notes. “I found one in my book!” said Mrs. Collins. “I read the book that the note recommended, and I loved it.” Soon, more people were borrowing books than before.

Grace wanted to know: who was writing the notes?

On Friday afternoon, she watched the shelves carefully. The library was quieter than usual. An old man was reading a newspaper. A girl with red glasses was walking slowly along the children's shelves.

The girl took a book from the shelf, opened it and put something inside. Something small and yellow.

Grace walked over to her. “Hello,” she said quietly. “Are you the person with the yellow notes?”

The girl's face turned red. “I'm sorry,” she said. “My name is Rosie. I read a lot of books, but I don't have anyone to talk to about them.”

Grace laughed. “Don't be sorry. Everyone loves your notes. And now you have someone to talk to. I love books too.”

The next week, there was a new shelf near the door. A sign above it said: ROSIE RECOMMENDS. And next to the shelf, there was a box of yellow notes for everyone.