Pages & Co: The Bookwanderers
Written by Anna James ● Illustrated by Paola Escobar
Verdict:
A delightful reminder of the power of books, perfect to encourage young readers into further literary adventures of their own.
What Is It About?
Eleven-year-old Tilly is part of the Pages family, living and working with her grandparents in a bookshop in London in the present day. She has long wondered why her mother disappeared (no one knows why), and who her father is, but she has no answers. That is, until characters from her favorite books start showing up and taking her into their storybook worlds. There, she finds she is a book wanderer, and begins to unravel the mysteries of her past.
Our take:
An excellent choice for a family or classroom read-aloud, this book quite literally allows young readers to dip into a host of different tales, from Alice in Wonderland to Treasure Island. While children who are familiar with these classics may find even more to delight in, the story makes perfect sense without prior knowledge. It may even entice young readers to explore these books themselves.
Characters range from jolly to sinister, and are perfectly pitched to convey the story. The plot has some tension — such as, what would you do if you had to walk the plank on a pirate ship? – and some worries about how to get back to one's own time, and the sadness of missing parents, but there is nothing deeply unhappy. It is a fun book, a warm book, a book that celebrates the inherent adventure of reading.
Perfect fit for:
This book is perfect for book lovers, and for inspiring children to become book lovers. This story can be suitable for a range of ages, including somewhat older children, as the plot is engaging. This book could be read after (or before) read-alouds of some of the classic books mentioned in the story, as the culmination of learning about different times and places.
Conversation Starters
What book character would you want to visit you?
What book setting would you want to explore? Why?
What would you do if you had a choice to take a big risk to get something you want, or to stay safe and not get it?
How much should children tell their parents (or grandparents, in this story) about what they are trying to do? How much should parents tell their children?
What are some good ways to be a friend to someone who does not know how to be a friend?
What should you do if a friend is asking you to do something quite risky?
Would you like to work in a book shop and have all the books to read that you want? Or do you prefer to have a few favorite books to re-read?
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