A STORY NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD BEFORE

A sly, silly, metafictive storytelling how-to guide.

Steinberg playfully breaks the fourth wall to address a diverse cast of children depicted in digital cartoon art. The narrator explains that this is “a story no one has ever heard before” and adds, “I am not going to be the one to tell this story.” Gazing wide-eyed, the kids balk. “Wait, what?” “You’re not?’” two children ask in speech-balloon dialogue. “You are!” replies the narrator. Ensuing pages cleverly avoid having the children actually tell a story. Instead, the narrator offers guidance on what every tale needs: a character, conflict, a climax, and a resolution. Along the way, the narrator also suggests a few possible—and hilarious—scenarios. Maybe the protagonist could be a talking carrot who encounters a potato covered in literal eyes (a fun visual pun). Or a stressed extraterrestrial who journeys through space for some R&R. Or a compassionate knight (depicted with light skin) who’d rather lend a hand to an ogre in need than vanquish a dragon. A concluding spread presents a Mad Libs–style page held in the hands of several children. Readers will feel as though they share the children’s visual perspective and will be eager to engage with the narrative. Inspired and dynamic, this one will stir burgeoning writers to try their hand at storytelling.

Kids will want to listen to this one again and again for creative inspiration.