HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BOOK?

What would you do if your favorite book, the one you loved so much you made it your own, went missing?

A brown-skinned kid with glasses and puffy blue-black hair asks, “Have you seen this book?” So begins a humorous tale within a tale narrated in second-person in which the missing book is described cover to cover by its owner, even as it appears up close, page by page, on every spread. The book in question features pictures of unicorns, a dragon, a troll, and more, not to mention creative embellishments added by the child, like colorful stickers, folded-over corners, a picture of a ring, a survey, a page from a completely different book (to replace one yanked out by a little sister), even a baby picture. This lively tale offers stories on two levels, since the kid’s book can be read, too, along with the overarching story. Dynamic and energetic illustrations use a bright palette, a variety of perspectives, and dramatic close-ups of the protagonist’s expressions to draw readers in. However, the ending is more than a bit puzzling—ultimately not delivering on the tongue-in-cheek joke that sustains the story, as the kid’s book, it seems, may not be missing at all: While the protagonist claims to be looking for the book throughout the story, it appears in their outstretched hands at the end. Young readers may have some trouble following this confusing narrative. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An unsatisfying story about an unusual book.