101 WAYS TO READ A BOOK

Not an instruction manual, but a delightfully extravagant demonstration of the persistence of reading and readers.

With a cat. Under a tree. Beneath a table. Out loud. Under the bedcovers. In the sun. In the hospital. In the bath. Dozens of readers, concisely labeled by type or practice (“The Time-Honored Tree Leaner,” “The Fireside Cushion Hog”), are drolly captured in these—and many other—common (and some uncommon) reading situations. Their elongated cartoon figures are differentiated by hairstyle, size, and skin color, though their clothing is always snappy. Chaud’s agile linework is flavored by shades of persimmon, verdigris, and lemon. In all seasons, weathers, and scenarios, alone or together, these bibliophiles resist distraction and discomfort to pursue the written word. Most instances are amusing, offering many opportunities to recognize one’s own or others’ behavior, often in an exaggerated form—“The Sleepwalker” (who “lives dangerously”), absorbed by a good read, unwittingly steps into an open manhole. But the final few pages of this French import unexpectedly suggest a gloriously serious “why” to read a book: Reading isn’t just an escape from the world; through reading, one’s imagination can “transform the world.” (This book was reviewed digitally.)

The next step is obvious: Add your own favorite reading situation to the list, then label and illustrate it.