Book: My Autobiography
Written by John Agard
Illustrated by Neil Parker
If a book could talk, what would it say about its past?
It would tell you about the farmers of Mesopotamia doodling with sticks on clay, but even before that type of writing, story was told with breath.
This fun look at the development of the book is entertaining as well as educational. Teachers and librarians will use it to fulfill core curriculum standards in areas of history and several literacy skills. Young readers will need to be prepared for how the author uses the inanimate book to tell the story in words normally used by people.
A fun activity to engage in while reading this book aloud to a class would be the creation of a time line illustrating each evolution of print. Students can discuss their opinions of digital versus print books when they come to the section in this text where we are assured that story will always be present.
The inclusion of poems, and quotes from around the world about the importance of books to the world add depth and beauty.
Students who become interested in the development of the book will want to research beyond this simple, but fun introduction.
Title: Book: My Autobiography- Author: John Agard
- Illustrator: Neil Parker
- Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2015
- Reviewer: Elizabeth Swartz
- Format: Hardcover, 132 pages
- ISBN: 978-0-7636-7236-2
- Genre: Fiction
- Grade level: 5 Up