Born to Read: Judy Sierra

Book: Born to Read
Author: Judy Sierra
Illustrator: Marc Brown
Pages: 40
Age Range: 4 to 8

I really wanted to love this new book written by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Marc Brown. Born to Read is about a boy named Sam who knows from the time he's a tiny baby that he's "born to read". And I do love parts of it, like when Sam's patient mother reads him book after book after book, and when a slightly older Sam reads at the mall, and while playing basketball. I also quite liked Marc Brown's gouache on wood illustrations. Sam is adorable, with red hair that sticks up in an enormous cowlick and big blue eyes. I like the combination of colors and texture of the illustrations, and the way that the illustrations are liberally sprinkled with pictures of books (specific books, in some cases, like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom).

And yet .... although I am a huge proponent of reading, I found the pro-reading message a trifle heavy-handed. Sam enters a bicycle race and wins handily against a bunch of older, more experienced cyclists because he has read extensively about everything from motivation to bike repair. He's not shown practicing at all (though he is shown on his bike on an earlier page), and the message seems to be that if you read enough about a sport, you can not only compete, but win races. I actually found this more absurd than the subsequent Sam-the-giant-tamer story (although that story was a bit tough to swallow, too, coming as it did at the end of an otherwise fairly realistic book). I did like the contrast that the book displayed by having a giant baby returned to a medieval-looking castle by a "cargo jet from UPS". But it was still kind of an odd mix.

The text makes extensive use of rhyme, which I believe is a trademark of the author. Sometimes this rhyme works ("And while the giant ate his snack up, Sam discreetly called for backup") and sometimes it doesn't ("Fee, fie, fo, fum" the giant said. I'll grind your bones to make my bread." "No, no," said Sam. "Have cake instead."). There were sentences that I had to read multiple times, to figure out what was going on with the rhyme and meter.

So, in summary, I think that this book is well-intentioned, sometimes fun, and gorgeously illustrated. I think that parents who want to encourage young readers will buy it and read it to their kids, and that they will enjoy it. But my personal recommendation, if you're looking to encourage a child to love books, is to not push this particular book too hard. I think that the strong "read, read, read" message, combined with the implied message that reading is sufficient, could backfire. I think it's better to concentrate on bringing great stories to your children's attention, and to let them learn to love books naturally.

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 12, 2008
Source of Book: Review copy from the publisher
Other Blog Reviews: Young Readers (Becky), Cheryl Rainfield
Author Interviews: Powell's Q&A

© 2009 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved.

Comments

[Becky]

I was very interested to get your opinion on this. I thought for a bit that maybe it was just me--though truth be told my parental units didn't much get this one either. Still it was reaffirming to get so thorough a review by someone whose opinion I trust.

[Jen Robinson]

Happy to help, Becky. This is actually a rare case in which I looked for validation of my position in other reviews, too (yours and Cheryl's). Because I really wanted to like this one, but was ultimately disappointed. Thanks for the feedback!

[Cheryl Rainfield]

I agree with you about this book, Jen. I, too, wanted to love it. I love books that encourage reading! But it also felt too heavy-handed to me. So I, like Becky, am relieved to see you feel the same way!

[Jen Robinson]

Heavy-handed is exactly the word for it, Cheryl. If the boy had lost the race because he only relied on books, instead of trying in the real world, and he ended up combining activity and reading, then I might have liked it. Anyway, glad to have people whose opinions I respect who feel the same way.

[Cheryl Rainfield]

i would have preferred the race scene not in there at all; it felt disconnected. But yeah, if it--and the whole story--had been more believable, it would've worked better. Or more just on a fantasy level. Not so much the message level.

And yes, it's lovely to have people we respect think the same way about a book!

[Megan]

I have not read this yet, but it sounds good. Have you read "Wild About Book" also by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Marc Brown?

[Jen Robinson]

Hi Megan,

I haven't read Wild About Books. But I'm not much of a "message book" person, even when it's a message that I support, so I'm not sure that it would be the right book for me. But of course everyone responds differently, and I know that there has been a positive response to both books by others.