Book

September 28, 2015
Although ostensibly a reference source, Agard's history of books is better regarded as a long, freeform meditation, or perhaps even a prose poem. Arranged chronologically and narrated by a personified Book, the history starts with human storytellingâ"Before Book, there was Breath"âbefore surveying the development of alphabets and printing (hieroglyphics, papyrus, and the rise of publishing houses are among the topics discussed), eventually working its way up to e-books. Agard (The Young Inferno) is at his best when writing against the grain, and the work's strongest moments come when he considers the politics of books: what happens when people are too poor to buy them, or when authorities consider them disturbing enough to burn. "Believe me," Book says, "I have been destroyed by hands that considered themselves holy. They threw me to the flames as they would later throw women who wisdom was beyond theirs and whom they called witches." Packer's witty, elegant illustrations make one wish for larger pages; in one, a Roman centurion reads in the bath, his feather-studded helmet still on his head, his toe stuck up the faucet. Ages 10âup.

September 1, 2015

Gr 6 Up-The author transcribes Book's autobiography from the beginning of communication via the clay tablet and the invention of the alphabet to printing presses and the modern ebook. This is a quick read with many pages of black-and-white illustrations that provide visual interest. Book offers anecdotal glimpses into his/her history (book burning, libraries, the difference between papyrus and parchment, how books smell). Though intriguing, this is a bizarre tale. As a character, Book is sarcastic and a bit eccentric with a wandering mind, occasionally making for a disjointed story line. Due to the first person account of an inanimate object, this story will be a fun read but nothing more. VERDICT Librarians do love books about books but this might fit best into libraries with large budgets that can splurge on the silly.-Lisa Nabel, Dayton Metro Library, OH

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 15, 2015
Book chattily narrates its memoir, as "transcribed" by Guyanese-English poet Agard. From oral storytelling to e-books, Book provides a succinct overview of the past 5,000 years of its development. Referring to itself alternately in the third person and the first, it covers cuneiform, hieroglyphics, and the rise of alphabets, along with tracing the technological advances that took it from clay tablets through papyrus and parchment to paper and through scrolls to the codex. Though Book waxes lyrical about Western innovations ("I was flying on the wings of Gutenberg's movable type"), it takes pains to give credit to the many other cultures of the book, including the Aztecs, the Kashmiri, and the Chinese: "from Cai Lun's mushy mash, presto, paper was born." Packer's witty, black-and-white graphics complement Book's story, offering images that range widely, including botanical drawings of plants used in the making of paper and delicate towers of type. Occasional book-related quotations punctuate Book's account: from Emily Dickinson, Bertolt Brecht, Malorie Blackman, and others. It's a highly idiosyncratic account, and it's not a little twee-Book is not beyond self-aggrandizement-but for all its brevity, it covers a lot of territory accurately and with verve. Book includes a bibliography but not specific direction for readers who'd like to know more about, for instance, rotary presses or bookbinding. A pleasing visit with an occasionally-if justifiably-immodest world-changer. (Nonfiction. 10 & up)

COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 15, 2015
Grades 5-8 Be still youth librarian hearts. Consider this a love letter to the physical object of the book, chronicled through time with humorous lyricism by Agard, a Guyanese British poet and author. From story to writing to alphabet, the evolution of the book as an item, up to and including its transformation into e-books, is told in first person by Book, which shares its memoir with Agard, who duly transcribes it for the reader. The lighthearted narrative is interspersed with relevant quotes, myths, poems, and Packer's fittingly whimsical black-and-white illustrations. Back matter includes a brief but excellent source list of adult titles. Creative educators may find that this slim volume serves as an instructional model for projects that document the development of one of humankind's most important handiworks. Teachers, librarians, and young readers with an interest in the format of books over time will especially appreciate Book's open account of bearing witness to change.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)