Books Aren't for Eating by Carlie Sorosiak, Manu Montoya
Published by Walker Books US on September 20, 2022
ISBN: 1536214965
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

A simply told story about finding that magical book that opens up the world of reading for the choosiest reader. Told from the point of view of Leopold, a goat who owns a second-hand book store and derives great joy from handing “just-right” books to various kinds of readers. Then he meets a tough customer (a fellow goat – most of his other customers are human). This goat savors the books Leopold hands to him but as a literal feast, instead of a literary one. In the end, Leopold finds the perfect book for the choosy goat to read.

The illustrations are fun with interesting details that immerse the reader more fully in the story. Young children will enjoy the silliness of the goat eating the books he should be reading. I thought Leopold was a little too invested in the goat customer seeing things his way. It is better than some other “the magic of just-right books” (talking to you, Goldie Socks and the Three Librearians) and not as good as Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I Don’t) by Barbara Bottner and Michael Emberley.

Reviewed by Deanna Contrino, Young School Library, Saco