Book

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

"My name is Book and I'll tell you the story of my life." Non fiction like you've never read it before!Quirky and humorous, part poetry, part reflection, this is the story of the book told by none other than Book himself! This extraordinary character begins by reminding us of his origins in oral story and clay tablets, then ponders on papyrus, parchment and paper, and on being a scroll who finally gets a spine. We see him lovingly illuminated by monks in medieval monasteries, then witness the massive changes brought about by the invention of the printing press, and the coming of paperbacks and e-books in the 20th century. But Book's not a straightforwardly chronological chap; he can't help musing - and his musings, whether they're on the evolution of the alphabet, libraries, book-burning or blurbs, are delightful and thought-provoking. Years of reflection and observation have gone into this charming title - John Agard signed the contract with Walker 16 years ago!

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

Gr 4-8-Here listeners are treated to an overview of the written word from oral traditions to ebooks, from the point of view of the book itself. As narrator of its own story, Book touches on multiple important topics in short, engaging chapters. With style and aplomb, it describes cuneiform and clay tablets, hieroglyphics and alphabets, papyrus and parchment, the invention of paper, illuminated manuscripts, movable type and the printing press, libraries, book burning, and more. While this work is not intended to be an exhaustive history, listeners nevertheless get a sense of how each step on Book's journey was necessary to reach the important place it now holds on shelves (and digital devices) around the world. Book has character and ego to spare, telling its own story with a very healthy sense of pride, and Dion Graham's rich voice and superb pacing are a perfect match for the informal, storytelling style of the narrative. With this stellar example of how a skilled narrator can bring a title to life, it's just a shame Book didn't mention audiobooks as part of its family tree. -VERDICT This charming, erudite work is recommended for school and public libraries. ["Librarians do love books about books but this might fit best into libraries with large budgets that can splurge on the silly": SLJ 9/15 review of the Candlewick book.]-Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.