Book Review: Miss Brooks Loves Books! (And I Don’t)

Allow me to introduce my new friend, Missy.

She hates books too.

She can’t understand why Miss Brooks, the school librarian, is so enthusiastic about them. They’re either too pink, too fluffy or just plain sappy. What’s a discerning non-reader to do when everyone around her can’t get enough of wild things, runaway bears and very hungry caterpillars? None of these things seem to hold any interest for Missy.

The problem’s compounded when Miss Brooks announces that Book Week is imminent. Everyone is expected to make their own costume and tell the rest of the class what they love most about their favorite book. Poor Missy insists that she’ll never find a book she loves, but the undaunted Miss Brooks sends her home with a big pile of books to choose from.

With a little help from her mom, Missy makes one last effort to find a book she can love, but things aren’t looking good.

“You’re as stubborn as a wart,” her mother exclaims.

Aha! Warts!

Suddenly inspired, Missy finally discovers a book she can love. No boring princesses or ballet dancers to be found—an ugly, wart-ridden ogre is what she’s looking for! Can you guess which book Missy chose?

Miss Brooks Loves Books! (And I Don’t) is a delightful picture book, artfully blending Barbara Bottner’s pitch perfect prose with Michael Emberley’s quirky, detailed illustrations (just see how many literary references you can spot with each costume Miss Brooks wears).

It can take a while for some young readers to find that one book that ignites their passion for reading. As a parent or teacher it can be a little frustrating when tried and trusted classics fail to have the desired effect, but it’s important to maintain a sense of optimism about the process and continue to offer encouragement to the reluctant reader. An open-minded approach to the process of matching the right book to the right child can often work wonders. Missy had no interest in princesses and ponies—it took a gross and yucky character like Shrek (did you guess?) to reveal her true passion for reading.

Here’s to more school librarians of Miss Brooks’s caliber!

Miss Brooks Loves Books! (And I Don’t) is written by Barbara Bottner and illustrated by Michael Emberley. Hardcover edition published in March 2010 by Knopf Books for Young Readers.

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