Welcome to the first children’s book review of the year! I’m excited to continue bringing you a new book review every Friday in 2015 (life and general chaos level permitting).
My children received some fantastic new books for Christmas, so I didn’t have to look far for inspiration this week. There is a new favourite book in the Hawker household. Meet The Book With No Pictures.
This is a truly wonderful book. When my daughter (who is four-and-a-half-going-on-14) opened the gift at Christmas, she had exactly the reaction I’d been hoping for. “A book with no pictures? HUUUUH? How do you have a book with no pictures?”
She looked nonplussed on the first read-through, then laughed all through the second. And the third. And the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and… you get the drift. (Did I mention that they were consecutive read-throughs? Did I need to? There are ALWAYS consecutive read-throughs when we find a new favourite!)
She quickly learnt that the beauty of a book with no pictures is that you have to read the words. Every single word. No matter how silly. No matter how nonsensical.
No matter how made-up.
No matter how much you want to stop.
Even when you think it’s over.
My son (now closer to 2 than 1) is still too young for The Book With No Pictures to really hit the mark, but he laughs whenever his sister does and enjoys it. I highly recommend it for ages 3 and up.
Have you read The Book With No Pictures? What did you think?
*The links in this post are affiliate links. If you click to buy the item, I earn a little commission but you don’t pay any extra.
Hey Em, great review. I am currently trying to buy gifts for nieces and nephews. Do you think this is too young for an advanced reading Miss 7?
I think it probably is too young. It reminded me of The Monster at The End of This Book – the Little Golden Book with Grover in it. Not sure if you’re familiar, but I’d say too young.
I read through it quickly in the bookshop before xmas. It looks so clever and funny and interactive. I have read a couple of books that have no words and they were increble too, as you get to make the story up with inspiration from the pictures. I love the idea of both. I will probably be adding this book to our collection but my kids are too little for it for now. Thanks for this review.
Dani 🙂
Pleasure! I hope you do get it, and that you enjoy it. Thanks for the additional feedback.
Ha ha – this book looks like great fun.
Seriously good fun.
I’d heard of this one in passing but hadn’t stopped to look at it properly. It sounds fabulous, I’ll have to check it out. Thanks for reviewing it:-)
You’re welcome! Enjoy.
This one is on my “to buy” list for Miss TT! I’ve heard such great things about it. It spun me out when I found out it was written by the guy from The Office!
I’ve only just learnt that, but now it makes total sense.
I was at the shops yesterday and actually walked past this book but didn’t get a chance to take a peek inside. I’ll definitely take a look next time as it sounds very interesting!
It’s hilarious! I haven’t gotten sick of the repeat reads yet. I’m sure I will, but it’s taking longer than usual!
Is this by the same B. J. Novak of The Office fame? If so I will definitely be getting myself a copy. It looks like something Punky will love come her next birthday in November (4! How did that happen?!).
The very same! Get it get it get it!
I haven’t read it yet but I think I must! We went to the play of Wind In The Willows this week which was a one man show, so required the kids to use loads of imagination as he played each role with just the change of a few props. It really got me thinking about how ‘spoon fed’ our kids are sometimes, esp with films/TV, but even in books. I love the idea of a book that shakes things up a bit and challenges kids’ expectations. Glad to hear your daughter enjoyed it!
That show sounds fantastic! Will have to see if they’re doing something like it in Melbourne.
haha I love these kinds of books. must get it for Bigs!
I’m glad so many people are thinking of getting it!
I love this! I’ll definitely have to get it for my boys! Can’t wait to see their reactions 🙂
Enjoy Grace. They’ll love it.
This book would be great for Esther. She would react the same that there are no pictures! She is 4 and a half so sounds like the perfect book for her age. 🙂
She would LOVE it. I hope you’ve bought it since!