Who's afraid of the big bad book? by Lauren Child

Book care, Lauren Child Style

There are plenty of how-to-take-care-of-your-books-dear-children picturebooks out there - most in varying stages of maudlin didacticism. But Lauren Child has a new and wacky take on the idea. A small boy loves books. Unfortunately, he loves them - literally - to pieces. He enjoys them in all possible ways, including with food, scissors, and glue. But one night....

He falls into his book and discovers the fairy tale characters are not happy with what he's been doing to them. A little book repair (and a few small adjustments to the story) later, everything is as it should be and his books will have a better life in the future.

Verdict: Funny, fresh, and entrancing, but sadly out of print


ISBN: 0786809264; Published September 2003 by Hyperion (out of print); Borrowed from the library; Added to my personal wishlist