Book! Book! Book! [Hardcover]

Deborah Bruss (Author), Tiphanie Beeke (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

When the children go back to school, the animals on the farm have nothing to do. That is...until they discover the library. But when Cow, Pig, Horse, and Goat try to check out a book, they are met with a very puzzled librarian. Why can't she understand? It is only when Hen gives it a try - "book! Book! BOOK!" - that the animals finally get what they want! "Young kids...[will] love making all the animal noises and recognize how it feels when an adult doesn't understand." - Booklist

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When the children leave the farm to go back to school, the bored barnyard animals head to the library in search of something to do. But their language ("Neigh! Neigh!" and "Moo! Moo!") is only so much noise for the kindly but confused librarian--until a determined hen flaps in and clucks "Book! Book! Book!" Soon, the gang is back on the farm happily having a story hour of their own (the cow even presents a puppet show). The plot of this debut book may be predictable, but Beeke's (The Brand New Creature) acrylic-and-watercolor paintings buoy the story. With a cheery, na‹f style and dappled, Easter-basket colors, the artist makes every full-bleed spread look like a sunny mural composed by young library goers, and her vignettes keep the attempts at communication tightly focused. Even though her characterizations are deceptively simple, the resolve of the plucky fowl and glee of the newly book-equipped animals shines through. Young bibliophiles in particular will appreciate Beeke's depiction of the library as a welcoming place of fun and possibilities. Ages 2-6.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1-Bruss has taken an old joke and drawn it out into a full-length picture book. When the children return to school, the barnyard is quiet and very dull. When the hen announces that she is heading to town, the rest of the animals follow. Seeing happy faces coming out of the library, she informs the others that she will go in and find something for them to do. Told that she is "too small for such a big job," the larger creatures take turns venturing inside, but cannot make themselves understood. Finally the hen goes in, says "Book! Book! Book!," and comes out with the desired items. The animals return to the farm and are pictured reading until the sun sets. In the unlikely event that children haven't already heard this joke, they will not be impressed by this belabored version. The very title of the story gives away the punch line and makes it anticlimactic. Beeke's watercolor illustrations featuring blue horses and dot-eyed children are pleasant but unexceptional.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books; 1st edition (May 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439135257
• ISBN-13: 978-0439135252
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 9.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #381,898 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Deborah Bruss recently returned from Florida where "Book! Book! Book!" was featured as the Families Reading Together book by the Palm Beach County Library System. Deborah also read her book at the National Family Literacy Day Celebration, the Storybook Stroll at the South Florida Science Museum, and several libraries in the county.

Deborah spent most of her life in rural New Hampshire and Maine, often under the influence of nosey wildlife, rescued dogs, quirky chickens, playful cats, curious horses, wise-looking turtles and all kinds of weather conditions. Mix this together with four children and a husband, and Deborah never runs out of story ideas. All this activity has taught her to think on top of, under, around and outside the box. Researching and writing about women in history is also another of her passions.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Barnyard Fun....., July 17, 2001

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Book! Book! Book! (Hardcover)

The poor farm animals are bored. The kids have all gone back to school and left them alone. The horse hung his head, the cow complained, the goat grumbled, the pig pouted, the duck dozed and the hen heaved a sigh and squawked "I'm bored! And I'm heading to town to find something to do!" So off they all went. Soon they got to town and found themselves in front of the library. It looked like a good place to visit since the people coming out all had smiles on their faces, so the horse went inside, approached the librarian and said neigh neigh. The librarian just stood there and looked puzzled. The horse hung his head and left. Next the cow (moo moo) tried, then the goat (baaah baaah) and pig (oink oink), with the same results. Finally the feisty hen went inside and spoke "Book, Book, Book!" with different results..... Deborah Bruss has written a funny, gentle story that will capture your little one's imaginations. Her simple text is beautifully complemented by Tiphanie Beeke's cheerful, humorous, childlike illustrations and youngsters will enjoy all the entertaining detail on each page. Perfect for preschoolers, Ms Bruss' debut picture book is a winner.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Librarians love it, too!, September 21, 2001

By 

Patricia Zube (Hudson, NH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Book! Book! Book! (Hardcover)

Deborah Bruss' Book! Book! Book! is a must-have for any home or school library. As an elementary school librarian, I find it a perfect way to introduce children to the joys of visiting the library. The simple storyline delights its readers as barnyard animals make their first trek to the library. Each animal, in its own language, asks the librarian for a book. First and second graders laugh when the hen gets what she wants. Then, still, another surprise comes on the last page. Tiphanie Beeke's illustrations draw the reader and the audience in. Bright, bold colors capture the interest of my students and make it an enjoyable book to share with a class. Book! Book! Book! is a favorite that my students ask me to read again and again.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book, book, book!, May 22, 2001

By 

Susi Richardson (Concord, NH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Book! Book! Book! (Hardcover)

I love this book, book, book! Sure it's a good joke (one that Debbie Bruss has creatively adapted for children), but it's also a delightful story about finding entertainment and pleasure in the pages of a book. Tiphanie Beekman's illustrations are warm and engaging, simple but not simplistic, sweet, with fun details (watch for the ladybug and the mouse). The language is pleasing and direct and offers opportunities for kid participation. Parents and children alike will reach for this smile-provoking book again and again - as will teachers and librarians - it's a beautiful tool for demonstrating what Book! Book! Book! readers already know: sharing a good story is FUN!