It's a Blog

It’s a Book by Lane Smith. (Gotta love what Lane says about his school library).  Roaring Brook Press, 2010.

The reading level of this book is much younger than the average tween reading level; however it’s the content of this book that is relevant to tweens.  The two main characters, a donkey (who goes by another name at the end of the story) and a monkey have a face to face conversation about the differences between the donkey’s computer, and the monkey’s book.

In the light of people who proclaim the death of printed media is near, this book was a refreshing read.  Obviously, I am all for new technology that communicates information (or else I wouldn’t have a blog!), but sometimes I feel a little lame when all I have as an excuse for the defense of books is, “There’s nothing like turning a crisp page, having vibrant illustrations and that clean paper smell”.  So it’s nice to have an actual book that puts the argument into story form to give the defense of the book a fresh (ah hem) narrative.  The moment towards the end of the story when donkey takes the time to fall into the story on the pages of the book that monkey lets him borrow makes me fall in love with reading all over again.  The freedom, the quiet and the curiosity it brings, and how it has as much to do with the physical object as it does the quality of story on the pages.

Also, the last line in the story, which is not shared in this YouTube promotional video (see I don’t dislike new media!) is amazing.  A line that older tweens will appreciate for it’s biting ability to get the final point across, much in the fashion of how good books always do.

Recommended for older tweens who feel like reading something light, but relevant to the times in which they live and want a break from their AR books.