Publishers Weekly
09/28/2015
Although ostensibly a reference source, Agard's history of books is better regarded as a long, freeform meditation, or perhaps even a prose poem. Arranged chronologically and narrated by a personified Book, the history starts with human storytelling—"Before Book, there was Breath"—before surveying the development of alphabets and printing (hieroglyphics, papyrus, and the rise of publishing houses are among the topics discussed), eventually working its way up to e-books. Agard (The Young Inferno) is at his best when writing against the grain, and the work's strongest moments come when he considers the politics of books: what happens when people are too poor to buy them, or when authorities consider them disturbing enough to burn. "Believe me," Book says, "I have been destroyed by hands that considered themselves holy. They threw me to the flames as they would later throw women who wisdom was beyond theirs and whom they called witches." Packer's witty, elegant illustrations make one wish for larger pages; in one, a Roman centurion reads in the bath, his feather-studded helmet still on his head, his toe stuck up the faucet. Ages 10–up. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
Consider this a love letter to the physical object of the book, chronicled through time with humorous lyricism by Agard, a Guyanese British poet and author...Teachers, librarians, and young readers with an interest in the format of books over time will especially appreciate Book’s open account of bearing witness to change.
—Booklist
Book covers a lot of territory accurately and with verve...A pleasing visit.
—Kirkus Reviews
Intriguing and a fun read.
—School Library Journal
Agard's history of books is better regarded as a long, freeform meditation, or perhaps even a prose poem...Packer's witty, elegant illustrations make one wish for larger pages...
—Publishers Weekly
[Agard] conjures a vivid, intriguingly detailed picture of the way the book and its social and economic meaning have transformed over the millennia...This will have an easy place in library lessons, and it will also engage the youngsters who want nonfiction to read like a story.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Aptly chosen quotations and poetry enrich the text. The volume itself is an object of interest and pleasure, with clear and varied type, plenty of white space, and an attractive cover design.
—VOYA
School Library Journal - Audio
★ 02/01/2016
Gr 4–8—Here listeners are treated to an overview of the written word from oral traditions to ebooks, from the point of view of the book itself. As narrator of its own story, Book touches on multiple important topics in short, engaging chapters. With style and aplomb, it describes cuneiform and clay tablets, hieroglyphics and alphabets, papyrus and parchment, the invention of paper, illuminated manuscripts, movable type and the printing press, libraries, book burning, and more. While this work is not intended to be an exhaustive history, listeners nevertheless get a sense of how each step on Book's journey was necessary to reach the important place it now holds on shelves (and digital devices) around the world. Book has character and ego to spare, telling its own story with a very healthy sense of pride, and Dion Graham's rich voice and superb pacing are a perfect match for the informal, storytelling style of the narrative. With this stellar example of how a skilled narrator can bring a title to life, it's just a shame Book didn't mention audiobooks as part of its family tree. VERDICT This charming, erudite work is recommended for school and public libraries. ["Librarians do love books about books but this might fit best into libraries with large budgets that can splurge on the silly": SLJ 9/15 review of the Candlewick book.]—Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL
School Library Journal
09/01/2015
Gr 6 Up—The author transcribes Book's autobiography from the beginning of communication via the clay tablet and the invention of the alphabet to printing presses and the modern ebook. This is a quick read with many pages of black-and-white illustrations that provide visual interest. Book offers anecdotal glimpses into his/her history (book burning, libraries, the difference between papyrus and parchment, how books smell). Though intriguing, this is a bizarre tale. As a character, Book is sarcastic and a bit eccentric with a wandering mind, occasionally making for a disjointed story line. Due to the first person account of an inanimate object, this story will be a fun read but nothing more. VERDICT Librarians do love books about books but this might fit best into libraries with large budgets that can splurge on the silly.—Lisa Nabel, Dayton Metro Library, OH
NOVEMBER 2015 - AudioFile
Dion Graham nails the narration of Agard’s loving tribute to books and their history. With warmth and pride, Graham portrays “Book,” who narrates his own autobiography. From hieroglyphics and cuneiform to movable type and e-books; from cultures European, Asian, Aztec, and more,“Book” shares his transformations over the years. Quotes from well-known literary people pepper the story. Graham has the style of a storyteller with a myriad of tools at his disposal, including a rich voice, variations in tempo, and volume changes, all used to make information clear and emotions palpable. Listeners of all ages will come away with a deeper appreciation of books. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2015-07-22
Book chattily narrates its memoir, as "transcribed" by Guyanese-English poet Agard. From oral storytelling to e-books, Book provides a succinct overview of the past 5,000 years of its development. Referring to itself alternately in the third person and the first, it covers cuneiform, hieroglyphics, and the rise of alphabets, along with tracing the technological advances that took it from clay tablets through papyrus and parchment to paper and through scrolls to the codex. Though Book waxes lyrical about Western innovations ("I was flying on the wings of Gutenberg's movable type"), it takes pains to give credit to the many other cultures of the book, including the Aztecs, the Kashmiri, and the Chinese: "from Cai Lun's mushy mash, presto, paper was born." Packer's witty, black-and-white graphics complement Book's story, offering images that range widely, including botanical drawings of plants used in the making of paper and delicate towers of type. Occasional book-related quotations punctuate Book's account: from Emily Dickinson, Bertolt Brecht, Malorie Blackman, and others. It's a highly idiosyncratic account, and it's not a little twee—Book is not beyond self-aggrandizement—but for all its brevity, it covers a lot of territory accurately and with verve. Book includes a bibliography but not specific direction for readers who'd like to know more about, for instance, rotary presses or bookbinding. A pleasing visit with an occasionally—if justifiably—immodest world-changer. (Nonfiction. 10 & up)
