Children's Corner: Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I Don't)

Review:  We picked this one up completely by chance at the library a few weeks ago and fell in love.

Missy is just a little put off by the librarian who is an exuberant woman that does story time.  Miss Brooks becomes the characters and dresses in costume.  But Missy just doesn't understand what all the fuss is about, especially because she doesn't like any of the books. They're either “Too flowery, too furry, too clickety, too yippity.” ~too cute.

But Book Week is here and each student must pick a book to share -in costume, no less.  Missy is mortified.  "I'll never love a book like you do," she tells the librarian. But Miss Brooks isn't so sure about that and sends home half the library with Missy so her mother can help her find a book that isn't " ...too kissy. Too pink. And too silly."  Finally, they stumble upon William Steig’s Shrek!  And Missy falls in love with book for the first time.  (I get misty-eyed just typing that.)  Suddenly she is full of boundless enthusiasm.

While this is the perfect anecdote for the little non-reader in every house, and it works just as well for the little book enthusiast too.  I'm lucky to have a little girl that adores books, and she loves reading this book just to investigate all the choices Missy explores before she finds her book.  It's great way to talk about how everyone has different tastes in books, music, clothes ...life! And that it's okay to be different.  Not every little girl has to love princesses, not every little boy has to love monsters.

I think this one may go on our to be purchased list, because we've read it every night since it came home from the library and I can see that it will get much more use over the years.