Review & Author Blog: 'I Don’t Like Books. Never. Ever. The End' on the BooksForTopics Blog

BooksforTopics Reading for Pleasure Recommendations

Sit your-shelf down, as this week marks the publication of the spine-ticklingly brilliant new picture book from Emma Perry and Sharon Davey, I Don’t Like books. Never. Ever. The End’, and today it’s our stop on the blog tour.

This story is a real treat for booklovers and not-yet-book-lovers alike, all about the irresistible magic of the world of books. Read on for a review of I Don’t Like Books. Never. Ever. The End and then head over to author Emma’s guest booklist featuring 5 favourite books about books!

Book Title: I Don’t Like Books. Never. Ever. The End (available here)

Author: Emma Perry

Illustrator: Sharon Davey

Publisher: David Fickling Books

Publication Date: February 2020

Reviewer: Nell Bond, Class Teacher

Review

This picture book is all about a young girl called Mabel, who is adamant she hates reading books. She complains when she receives books as gifts and she sees herself as far too adventurous and creative to sit down, open up the pages and read. Instead, Mabel put the books to use for juggling and sledging around the house. But one evening, Mabel’s books decide they have had enough of being used incorrectly. They insist on gaining her attention. In a flap of commotion, Mabel finds herself falling right inside a world of books.

The stories she falls into are varied. From a crime story to a spaceship to a knight’s tale! But none of the stories allow her to explore as far as she wants to, frustrating her into realising that reading is an adventure in itself! Mabel returns to her room with a newfound love of reading. Her interest is sparked and the book ends with her looking lovingly at a book, surrounded by stacks of literature.

This book is a wonderful addition to the classroom library. With Mabel as a reluctant reader, she demonstrates what lots of children experience as frustration with sitting still and reading ‘boring’ books. Perry’s use of such a relatable quirk is wonderful. There is a lot of repetition of language to support readers in being gently led through the story and the symmetry of the beginning and the ending is lovely. The charming illustrations bring the story to life and the book itself needs to be rotated while being read, which keeps it engaging and furthers the sense of adventuring inside the book.

I would enjoy this book in a classroom with younger children, but it could be used with older students alongside a discussion of ‘how can we get younger pupils to read more?’

Guest Post

Click here to read Emma Perry’s guest booklist featuring 5 favourite books about books!

Emma Perry can be found either writing books, reading them or teaching them. It’s always been that way. In fact, her first two picture books are about… yep, books.

The founder of MyBookCorner and organiser of International Book Giving Day, the book obsession shows no sign of slowing down.

Twitter: @_EmmaPerry

Instagram: @EmmaPerry

Website: www.emmaperryauthor.com

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