WHEN THE BOOK IS OVER

Lake, who has olive skin and black hair, finds an intriguing story about dragons while visiting the library. He loves dragons, and as he reads, he becomes more and more inspired by the story. When the book ends, Lake doesn’t know what to do, because he wants more narrative about the dragons. He learns from the librarian that he can’t write in the book to maintain the story’s momentum, so he and his parents leave.  Lake and his mother talk about why stories end and the possibilities of new beginnings (“When the book is over, you can just close the cover and dream”). Gatza offers an engaging reflection about what happens when the books we love conclude. While there is a bit too much focus placed upon the end of the book, and on the reader’s immediate experience of the pages and the presentation of the book itself, the concept is intriguing. Lake must figure out what to do to keep the story going, which puts the early-childhood protagonist in an agentic role. The book is also humorous, both in the appealing paper cut-out illustrations (reminiscent of Eric Carle’s work) and the text. The premise and age-appropriate humor make for a fun ride for early childhood readers.

Mar 15, 2025 - 07:34
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WHEN THE BOOK IS OVER
Book Cover

Lake, who has olive skin and black hair, finds an intriguing story about dragons while visiting the library. He loves dragons, and as he reads, he becomes more and more inspired by the story. When the book ends, Lake doesn’t know what to do, because he wants more narrative about the dragons. He learns from the librarian that he can’t write in the book to maintain the story’s momentum, so he and his parents leave.  Lake and his mother talk about why stories end and the possibilities of new beginnings (“When the book is over, you can just close the cover and dream”). Gatza offers an engaging reflection about what happens when the books we love conclude. While there is a bit too much focus placed upon the end of the book, and on the reader’s immediate experience of the pages and the presentation of the book itself, the concept is intriguing. Lake must figure out what to do to keep the story going, which puts the early-childhood protagonist in an agentic role. The book is also humorous, both in the appealing paper cut-out illustrations (reminiscent of Eric Carle’s work) and the text. The premise and age-appropriate humor make for a fun ride for early childhood readers.