Review - Give Me Back My Book!

Give Me Back My Book!
by Travis Foster & Ethan Long
Date: 2017
Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 56
Format: e-book
Source: library

This book is full of wonderful WORDS and beautiful PICTURES! And it's EXCITING! And it's FUNNY! It might be the BEST BOOK EVER—if we could decide whose book it is. Redd and Bloo explore the way a book is made and accidentally build a friendship, too, in this tale told only in dialogue. Travis Foster and Ethan Long offer a hilarious story about the joy of reading, which brings people together in unexpected ways, proving that each book truly belongs to... the people who love it.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one. The illustrations are the sort of simple, cartoonish pictures that don't really excite me. But I did enjoy the story about two creatures--Redd and Bloo--who fight over a book... until Bookworm steals the book from both of them. Then they have to come up with a plan to get their book back. In the process, they learn a valuable lesson. It doesn't appear to translate to any other situations, though, which is kind of funny; the book ends with the same sort of rivalry, and you just know these two are probably going to find something new to argue about tomorrow.

The illustrations are actually kind of interesting. The characters are all drawn in a simple style, but the coveted book (and other objects having to do with books) appear to be photographs. It's different, but it works here since the books really need to stand out.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this one. It would be a great book for siblings who are always arguing over something. Although, they might just fight over this book, as well...

Quotable moment:

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5