I Love Books

I Love Books is an unusual book with an important message. On the cover, the title reads, 'I Hate(crossed out) Love Books, which begins to explain what the story is about.  The beginning of the book takes us to a classroom on the final day as the children are breaking up for the summer holidays. Their teacher says "Enjoy your holidays and don't forget to read a book!" The children are not keen on books and the main character brings the bad news home that she has to read a book over the summer! Mum has an idea and takes her to the library to help her choose a book and with some help, she is encouraged to take home a book her mum loved.

Despite being so reluctant to pick up a book, soon the girl is reading and enjoying her book and going on different adventures with the characters in the stories she reads. This book is a real encouragement to get reading and the grey, dreary pages soon spring into colourful action with dragons and magic and a happy girl who has escaped into a reading adventure!

This book was shared with a class of 6-7-years-olds who loved the concept of the book and definitely love books, not hate them!

Picture book / Reviewed by Maria, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 5+

I Love Books is, just as its title suggests, a celebration of the love of reading, beautifully described by award-winning author and illustrator Mariajo Ilustrajo.  When a girl is horrified to be asked to read a book during the summer, her older sister gives her a book that she had enjoyed and which she might like, too.  At first, the child complains about how long it is before begrudgingly beginning to read it... until she is lost in the story.

This is the true pleasure of reading, becoming so lost in the story that you feel you are living inside its pages, and Mariajo illustrated this by turning the pages from monochrome to glorious colour as the child steps into the lush, wild landscape of her imagination.

This is how we would love to see all children grow as readers, with this love of stories so they get lost inside each book they read.  I would definitely share this book with any child who sees reading as a chore, and encourage them to get lost in its pages, just as much as those who love to read. A gorgeous picture book to be shared with all children, to remind them of the wonder of stories.

Picture book / Reviewed by Elen Green

Suggested Reading Age 5+