Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsA cute book that could have been better with more editing.
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2018
I really wanted to love this book. The illustrations are lively and I appreciate the diversity in the book (for example, one of the background kids just happens to be in a wheelchair -- that is so rare in children's books and deserves props). My issue is with the words. The rhyming couplets are often awkward, especially the second one on a page where there is often a sudden change in rhythm/meter. "When you visit the library, please keep in mind/no running, no shouting -- to all books, be kind/But there's one rule that's BIGGER than the rest/And it MUST be followed by all of our guests." If the words were changed to "But there's one rule that's bigger than all of the rest" it would scan better. "You may ask her to come to a library show/But the trouble will start with the first song she knows/Her swaying hips will crowd your space/with a dragon jig that has no grace." I haven't had a chance to read the book to kids yet, so they may be less bothered than I am. I suggest reading this to younger (pre-K) kids and also putting a long pause between the couplets so they don't seem like they're trying to be part of the same stanza.
