This Book Is Alive!, written by Justine Avery and illustrated by Daria Yudina, begins with the character named This Book Is Alive, who is a book, complaining that its title is terrible. The other character replies that one should not be stuck on names. Books are important. Then, the Book agrees that being a book is superior after all. Both agree that books are alive with many possibilities. The characters go on to say that books can be anything, from big or small to soft or hard, sweet or silly, etc. The author explains that books are always there if you need them. Books communicate. Books express ideas. Books know every language. Books do not hide their feelings. The book ends by asking if it is great to be alive, isn’t it?

This Book Is Alive! by Justine Avery goes into many details of how books are important, especially to children. Without being able to read, how would children, or adults for that matter, get through life? This story is not rushed, but goes at a steady pace, helping young readers to grasp the concept. The book is very cute, especially the illustrations by Daria Yudina. The characters, such as This Book Is Alive, explain to children in an understandable way and make the book fun. The theme matches the title, teaching that books are really alive, especially to children. Experts do say that knowledge is power. I think this book is perfect for children in kindergarten through third grade.

This unique children’s book is alive, with a face and a voice, talking directly to a child. It shares that books are alive as they communicate, express ideas and speak every language. Just like people, they have personalities, are big or small, old or young, sweet or silly. A list of other possible characteristics is described but most important of all, “A book can be anything it wants to be, just like you.” This Book Is Alive!, written by Justine Avery and illustrated by Daria Yudina, is a creative way to stimulate a child’s interest in books. Daria Yudina’s illustrations are clever and delightful. For example, how she portrays the face of the book makes it look as if the book is talking face-to-face with the child. Utilizing a brown sepia coloring is not the typical children’s book color, making it different than other books a child has.

A child’s imagination will be stimulated by the conversation the book has with the child reader. By asking the child’s name at the beginning, it encourages a back-and-forth conversation. This can be enhanced by a parent or teacher eliciting further thoughts and questions from a child while continuing to read the book out loud. The adult can also encourage a love for books by reinforcing all the many ways books can teach and entertain us. Author Justine Avery, with beautiful illustrations by Daria Yudina, has created a wonderful teaching tool in This Book Is Alive! Children will love this book!