Children’s Book Reviews: Please, Open this Book
In Please, Open this Book! by Adam Lehrhaupt, the manic monkeys from Warning: Do Not Open This Book (2013) return with a new set of demands. This time around, the animals beg readers to leave the book open, so they won’t be trapped inside. Mayhem ensues when pages are turned, including such sorry sights as a woebegone alligator in a plaster cast, a tight-mouthed toucan with a bandaged beak, and a bruised banana are prominently on display. The narrator tries admonishing the reader to “Step away from the book,” and even offers to write a new story. As the stalling attempts continue to prove futile, a teary-eyed chimp gives one last forlorn plea. And the funny, meta-fictive escapades continue after the last page is turned, as the story spills onto the back cover,and small-print instructions lead to more circular, playful drama.
Matthew Forsythe’s digital illustrations pop against the pitch black backgrounds. Bursting with mischievous comedic timing, the book opens with the stark sight of two wide eyes peering out from the dark. This continues throughout the book, as all of the animals directly appeal to the reader (whether they are scurrying across the page) holding up a “Wanted” poster or waving “S.O.S.” flags. With this much boisterous, interactive fun, readers will be hard-pressed to put down this book.
Linda Ludke is a librarian at London Public Library. Her reviews have appeared in Quill and Quire, School Library Journal and CM: Canadian Review of Materials. When she’s not reading and writing she also loves searching for vintage treasures.
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