A BOOK ABOUT YOU AND ALL THE WORLD TOO

What adventures are in store?

In What Would You Do in a Book About You? (2021) and Me and You in a Book Made for Two (2022), Reidy invited readers to imagine the stories someone might tell about them. Now, reminding readers that “We’re in this together,” she asks kids to mull the exploits they—and the whole world—might get up to. The book starts off in a library. After describing the joy of making friends, it transitions into a series of rhetorical questions about the types of adventures a child might imagine, from riding in a car with clownfish to eating pie with giraffes. The tale changes once again into a message about the importance of finding unity among diverse friends, followed by a reminder of the need to protect our planet. Finally, the text comes almost full circle when a character enters a library, or perhaps a classroom, greeted by children. The book lacks a clear narrative arc or central theme, veering among stanzas about making friends with people of other faiths, going on imaginary adventures, and saving the planet. As a result, the text feels unnecessarily long, and the rhythm grows monotonous and clunky. While the illustrations, depicting a diverse group of children, are charming, they don’t always support the accompanying text, which amplifies the general feeling of confusion. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A bewildering picture book that tackles too many topics.