This Is Not A Book by Jean Jullien
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Shall we start the week off with a very good book indeed? Yes. Of course we should.
This is Not A Book by Jean Jullien is an outstanding thing; a board book that defies conventions and expectations by resolutely refusing to be a board book. There’s no linear narrative here, rather there’s a series of double page spreads where the book is something other than a book. It’s a set of piano keys with the sheet music for Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, or it’s a man walking across a tightrope, or it’s the inside of a tent, a girl sat on a chair reading a book to her pet dog, or a gorgeously simply rendered pink bottom.
This is a delightful book because of its ability to give a constant surprise. It’s so defiant of convention and expectation that it manages to deliver something quite extraordinary. Not quite book, not quite toy, but rather wonderfully creative experience. I loved it. This is classy, brave and smart work.
Daisy May Johnson 