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This Book is Not for You!

 


Written by Shannon Hale
Illustrated by Tracy Subisak
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2022. Picture Book.

This is a picture book by a favorite Utah author, Shannon Hale. She has also written The Goose Girl, The Princess Academy, and the graphic novel Real Friends Series. 

Stanley rides his bike to the bookmobile and he's surprised to find that Ms. Christine, the regular bookmobile lady, is on vacation. Her replacement is an old man with big, bushy eyebrows. Stanley wants to check out The Mysterious Sandwich. He's surprised when the old man won't let him check the book out because it is a "girl book." Stanley is frustrated when the old man lets Valeria check out The Mysterious Sandwich because she's a girl. Stanley is also interested in a book about cats or robots, but the old man will only let cats check out books about cats and robots check out book about robots! Everyone is surprised when an Allosaurus shows up demanding to read a book about ponies. 

This Book is Not for You! is so fun to read with relatable characters and speech bubbles. It is empowering and makes you feel like you have a choice in what you read. This book lets you know that boys can totally read 'girl books' (and vice versa). The illustrations are done in a mixed medium using ink, watercolors, pastel and colored pencils, and the result is delightful! If you're a book lover of books about book lovers, (and even if you're not) then this is for you!

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