WHEN YOU LOVE A BOOK

A spirited ode to the ways books affect us all.

A group of racially diverse children celebrate the many journeys reading can take us on. From board books (“a strong, sturdy friend who won’t mind if you chew”) and pop-up books to titles for older kids (“When you grow bigger, your books grow big, too”), there’s something for everyone. References to classic kid lit such as Where the Wild Things Are (“A book is a Wild One whose supper’s still hot”), Strega Nona, and Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! abound, though these works aren’t explicitly named and may go over many kids’ heads. Toward the end of the narrative, an adult reads a story out loud to a group of children; the book’s cover depicts those very same children—a reference to Rudine Sims Bishop’s seminal essay “Mirrors, Windows and Sliding Glass Doors” (“With a book as a friend, you will always feel heard. / There’s someone like you looking back from each word”). Bright illustrations make use of collage, incorporating the pages of a book into trees, children’s clothing, and wallpaper. While the intentions are noble, and voracious readers might be able to catch some of the references, this story feels as though it’s preaching to the choir and appears geared toward adults in need of a gift for a young person.

A lofty effort that might leave kids wanting to read the stories referenced instead.