From the Publisher
"A book is full of leaves that feed the tree of life, each page bound on one edge, free on three". In words and paintings, "Book" captures the feeling of opening to page one--for the first or fiftieth time--and entering the worlds of drama, imagination, and fun promised beyond it. Full color.
<br>— Riverbank Review -
Tunie Munson-Benson
Lyon invites the reader to wonder at the object in hand, and then simply to wander.
Children's Literature
This oversize picture book, really an illustrated free verse poem, pays tribute to books and reading. The full page paintings embrace both the words and the sprit of the text and bibliophiles will find themselves in complete agreement with the author's exalted view of books and reading. While younger readers may also agree with the sentiments expressed, they may wish they were reading a book that actually did the things this book talks about books being able to do. Teachers of English, though, will delight in the extended metaphors that make up this literacy tribute and will be tempted to use this book as a springboard for their students to use when creating their own pieces of poetry.
School Library Journal
K-Gr 4In this short poem, Lyon presents metaphors about books: A BOOK is a HOUSE/that is all windows and doors or a CHEST/that keeps the hearts treasure or a FARM,/its fields sown with words. Catalanottos watercolors show a blond-haired girl moving through the scenarios evoked by the text. Many of the words from the poem are incorporated into the pictures; they swirl around the girl and appear strewn across the sky or floating in the air. This is an earnest effort, but the overall effect is pretentious and unlikely to engage readers of any age. We are better off reading good books to children than trying to describe their effect in picture-book format.Miriam Lang Budin, Mt. Kisco Public Library, NY Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.