THE STORY OF A BOOK

A book makes its way to different readers.

In a paean to literature, reading, and choice, a purple book with a yellow star ends up in the hands of different readers. The first person who picks it up in a library when it’s still “fresh ink on crisp pages” “is not the reader for this book,” but the story—depicted with stars and bright squiggles and butterflies flying out from between the covers—finds its way into more appreciative hands. “More powerful when you choose the book yourself,” for some reason, the untitled book ends up in a hospital bed, a treehouse, and a baby’s arms. Very little happens throughout—a few lines per page follow the book and the readers through endlessly supportive atmospheres, and when the book comes full circle, battered and worn in a library book sale, it finds new life as a kite flying high in the sky. This feels like a poem for adults who are starry-eyed about the power of reading, but actual children who enjoy stories may feel like something is lacking in this book about books. Colorful, detailed illustrations show a diverse cast engaging with the book in school, at home, and around nature. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An idea self-conscious about its own importance.