IF ANIMALS LOVED BOOKS
From the If Animals Kissed Good Night series
by Ann Whitford Paul ; illustrated by David Walker
The latest in Paul and Walker’s series sees a cuddly coterie of animals embracing the joy of reading.
How would bats read their favorite stories? Why, hanging upside down of course. And how would a kitten show some appreciation for a beloved read-aloud? By licking the pages: “yum-yummy story, purr-purr-purr-purrrrrrrrrrrrr.” In addition to showcasing adorable animals immersing themselves in literature, Paul and Walker highlight many places to read and acquire books, such as the library (staffed by a bespectacled mole) or a bookstore (with the books spread out on the branches of a tree). Beaver Kit snuggles up in a “stick-and-mud” nook, chewing a few of the pages, while several young badgers gather under a tree. The owls attend a monthly book club, and Dog holds a storytime as a passel of puppies gather around to listen. Paul’s singsongy text uses many identical rhymes (“Bunny would hug her book and hop-hop / in a book-happy dance, hip-hippity-hop”), but one stanza breaks the flow: “If animals loved books, / Fox Mama would read all Kit’s books, / but then he’d yelp, / ‘Read them again!’” Still, the tale brims with enthusiasm, and Walker’s soft, gentle colors match the roly-poly animals as they happily profess their love of reading. It all concludes with Fox Kit tucked up in bed, making this a lovely bedtime choice.
A cozy ode for bibliophiles everywhere.
(Picture book. 3-6)