Common Sense Media Review
By Tracy Moore
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Wildly original wordless book deconstructs magic of reading.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
A young girl finds a red book on the way to school. Inside, it holds a map with an island, and ever-closer pictures lead to a new friend. Suddenly, she's looking at a picture of a new friend looking at a picture of her. Before she knows it, she's off on an adventure traveling through space and time to make new friends and leaving behind the joy of reading.
Is It Any Good?
With stunning images and turns that surprise and delight, THE RED BOOK is not easily forgotten. Young readers enter a book that ultimately deconstructs the magic of books. It's a visual-only journey aided by vivid, simple pictures in watercolors, gouache, and ink. But altogether, it gets the brain of kids and adults alike firing on all cylinders, reminding readers of the wonder and awe books offer by simply showing us another world.
Kids will marvel at the magic of the storytelling: How is she seeing him and he seeing her at the same time? Where is she going? What happens to the book now? Parents will find the clever yet simple approach refreshing and impressive and likely a source of very engaging conversation.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the magic in the book. How is the girl in the book seeing the boy, and how is he seeing her? What do you think the next person who picks up the book will see?
How does the girl feel about the adventure in the book? Is she excited? Scared? Happy?
What's your favorite book that takes you to faraway places? What do you like about it?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Barbara Lehman
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Book Characters , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HMH Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : September 27, 2004
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Paperback, Hardback, Kindle
- Award : Caldecott Medal and Honors
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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