Authored by a teacher/librarian, This Is a Story imparts to the smallest page-turners, in a gentle, entertaining way, what a wondrous and deeply human experience it is to open a book and establish a connection to the big world around them. It’s a lovely read (or read-aloud) but for me, it’s Lauren Castillo’s illustrations that make it a standout on any shelf. They’re deceptively unsophisticated and do a perfect (yes, I said perfect) job at representing a child’s reality. On that subject, it’s a crime that her diaristic picture book collaboration with Emily Jenkins from 2007, What Happens on Wednesdays, is out of print. (Ages 2 to 7)
—James Crossley, Madison Books, Seattle, WA
Find books you’ll want to hold close at Madison Books and other independent bookstores.