I thought it fitting to begin the year with a celebration of my favorite thing– books– and one of my very favorite picture books of 2016: A Child of Books, written by Oliver Jeffers and illustrated by Sam Winston. There were extraordinarily high expectations for this duo and this story, and I am delighted to say that this book exceeded all of mine.
A Child of Books isn’t your typical story: it is, instead, the journey of a young girl who sails a raft across a sea of words until she meets a young boy- a boy she invites to go with her on an adventure. The children climb “mountains of make believe” and play hide and seek in a forest where branches are drawn with phrases from fairy tales. The adventure allows the boy to unlock his imagination, resulting in an exquisite love letter to the brilliance of a reading life.
RELATED: We’ve got all the best children’s books for you on Happily Ever Elephants, so be sure to check them out!
For those of you who love books, story, and the written word as much as we here at Happily Ever Elephants do, A Child of Books is one of those gorgeous, lyrical works that you will want to open and read again and again- one that resonates deeply and viscerally. It is an ode to reading, a testament to the great works of literature, and a tribute to both the sanctity and wonder that is found within a great book. This innovative masterpiece is an absolute must for any book lover, especially for those of you who grew up like me– a child of books. Bravo!
And don’t forget to check out @kidlitpicks for this month’s awesome featured theme – #findyourselfinabook. A Child of Books is definitely one that resonates with me for this very reason – I was that little girl. For more great picks, make sure to check out @readingisourthing and @ilovebooksandicannotlie.
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