I read this together with my husband in a bookstore while we were shopping for a pair of newborns, and we thought it was terrible! What small child understands "email" and "typing"? It makes no sense. It's point is cute - one animal doesn't know what to do with a book, and guesses silly things like putting it on his head. But some of the suggestions are way beyond the comprehension of small children. Also why was the monkey ginormous compared to the donkey? My husband found the illustrations creepy. Yikes! Sometimes board book adaptations just don't work. I get what Lane Smith is trying to do here... Of course we want children to learn what a book is, how to hold it, and *yes* eventually read books. BUT this is a board book for babies. And a board book IS for chewing (that is how infants explore and learn). A board book IS for building (I use them all the time as blocks in my story play programs). One of the things that youth librarians try to impress upon parents is that board books should essentially be "toys". That is why they are made as "tough" board books. I love the illustrations in this book, so it saddens me that I have to give it one star....
I loved this adaptation!!!! I've read it to many preschoolers who think it is SOOO funny!
—tayglo
So fun and a great way to teach little kids about what to do (and not do) with books.
—muna
Read in babytime, and acted out some of the pages. Babies loved it!
—hawksinger
Same great story only in diapers!
—Shimon
