Books celebrating reading are always a huge hit in our house and we love the way that Just Read!’s bouncy rhyming text introduces children to the joys of reading – anything and everywhere! This beautifully illustrated book is perfect for voracious little bookworms and is a delight to read out loud.
Just Read! introduces us to children who are reading about a wide range of characters including clowns, knights and various animals. It also recognises that it is not only stories that we read but also non fiction, newspapers, signs, song books, comics and e-books. It gives so many wonderful examples of places you can read – in the playground, after sweeping leaves in the garden, in the city or in the country.
The diverse range of characters and cultures means that this is a book which represents everybody including children who read Braille and children who sign. But it isn’t just children reading, there are adults reading too, several of them are reading e-books.
The characters and the places that the children are reading about also come alive in the illustrations – storybook characters, animals and entertainers crowd the pages – bears look through train windows and tigers join children in the park. Characters are shown reading in a variety of places including the barber’s shop, a music shop and on the swings.
Victoria Tentler-Krylov’s illustrations are beautiful, busy and full of booky details to pore over. We love this illustration showing children choosing books and reading.
Although not named we follow the children throughout the book as they read in different places before coming together at the end. It is fun to spot them as we turn the pages and we absolutely love the location of their bookclub on the final spread.
The endpapers of the book are particularly gorgeous with the children taking part in a parade to share their message to ‘Just Read!’. It’s also great to see the inclusion of a Little Free Library which encourages us to ‘Take a book, leave a book!’
Just Read! is a fabulous celebration of books and reading, it’s a great book to show children how much fun reading can be. Despite having tablets and e-readers I still love the feel of a real book in my hands but what works for me may not work for you.
That’s the beauty of Just Read! – it conveys a joy of reading in all forms 🙂
Age Range: 3 +
Author: Lori Degman / Illustrator: Victoria Tentler-Krylov
Thanks so much for the wonderful review, Catherine!! One of the things I love most about Victoria’s illustrations is the details – I see something new every time I read it!
You’re very welcome Lori! Victoria’s illustrations are amazing, you’re very lucky that she illustrated your fabulous book 🙂
I do love the illustrations – great one! #MMBC
They’re gorgeous aren’t they – so full of detail 🙂