Books contain countless tales—but what if Book told its own story? From clay tablets to e-readers, here is a quirky, kid-friendly look at the book.
Books are one of humankind’s greatest forms of expression, and now Book, in a witty, idiosyncratic voice, tells us the inside story. A wonderfully eccentric character with strong opinions and a poetic turn of phrase, Book tells of a journey from papyrus scrolls to medieval manuscripts to printed paper and beyond—pondering, along the way, many bookish things, including the evolution of the alphabet, the library (known to Egyptians as "the healing place of the soul"), and even book burning. With bold, black-and-white illustrations by Neil Packer, Book is a captivating work of nonfiction by one of England's leading poets.
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...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.
—Booklist
Book covers a lot of territory accurately and with verve...A pleasing visit.
—Kirkus Reviews
Intriguing and a fun read.
—School Library Journal
Agard's history of books is better regarded as a long, freeform meditation, or perhaps even a prose poem...Packer's witty, elegant illustrations make one wish for larger pages...
—Publishers Weekly
[Agard] conjures a vivid, intriguingly detailed picture of the way the book and its social and economic meaning have transformed over the millennia...This will have an easy place in library lessons, and it will also engage the youngsters who want nonfiction to read like a story.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Aptly chosen quotations and poetry enrich the text. The volume itself is an object of interest and pleasure, with clear and varied type, plenty of white space, and an attractive cover design.
—VOYA
