Judy Sierra

When the Springfield librarian, Molly McGrew, by mistake drives her bookmobile into the zoo, she immediately gets the animals hooked on reading, finding that special book for each one--tall books for the giraffes, small books for crickets, even waterproof books for the otters. The animals begin writing their own books. They win literary awards (the Zoolitzer Prize) and build their own branch library right there at the zoo. Judy Sierra and Marc Brown dedicated this book to Dr. Seuss. Can you find all the references to his life and his books in Wild About Books?

AWARDS

Association of Booksellers for Children's E.B. White Read-Aloud Award

Bank Street College of Education's Irma Simonton Black Honor Book

American Library Association Notable Book

Mom's Choice Award

National Parenting Publications Gold Award

Nominated for children’s choice awards in Arizona, California, Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Nevada, New York, North Dakota and Utah

FROM THE REVIEWS:

"Sierra's text has a wacky verve and enough clever asides and allusions to familiar characters to satisfy bibliophiles of all ages. The author's sense of playfulness in plot and language ("llamas read while eating their llunches"; a hippo wins the "Zoolitzer Prize") creates a lavish literary stew. Comic moments abound, including bugs writing haiku and unruly bears licking illustrations right off the page (until Molly gently teaches them how to treat books properly). Brown's cheerful, full-color illustrations stretch his trademark art with ever-so-slightly stylized spreads that are rich in pattern, texture, and nuance. On each spread, he plays with perspective and layout to create an electric sense of excitement as the animals discover what kids have known for a long time–reading is fun!" —School Library Journal (starred review)

"Many picture-book authors who try their hands at rhyme have less-than-stellar results. Here, the best part of the book is Sierra's handy way with a rhyming text that not only scans properly but also is both clever and full of images that will amuse children ("Tasmanian devils found books so exciting / That soon they had given up fighting for writing"). The wild animal goings-on offer illustrator Brown an opportunity to get away from his vaguely aardvarklike Arthur and create some real animals--in fact, about every animal one can think of. All the slaphappy art fits nicely into double-page spreads that allow the energetic action room to breathe. That's good because there are tons of things to look at, all in sunny colors. Not only are the animals reading books but they are also hugging them, licking the pictures off the pages, and trying their "hands" at writing. A wonderful advertisement for the joys of a literary life." —Booklist (starred review)

FROM THE REVIEWS

"[Sam's] story traces his love of books from his mother's readalouds to his own constant reading on a multitude of subjects and his sometimes surprising and practical use of reading in the outside world. Once he is fluent, Sam diagnoses himself and avoids an operation, wins a cycling race (although he stops for a poem or two) because "Readers win and / winners read," and conquers a hungry and familiar giant, all through his use of books. Literary references (Pat the Bunny, "Jack and the Beanstalk" and the Arthur series) abound in both Brown's illustrations and text, adding to the fun. . . . [T]his will appeal to both children and parents as they embark together on the path to reading."

Kirkus Reviews