A book!

It's a Book
by Lane Smith

Oh, the book. Everyone wants to know what will happen to it in the years to come. I'll leave that debate alone for today, and instead bring you a fun look at what might happen to those who don't get enough exposure to real books.

Summary
Lane Smith's It's a Book is a picture book that readers young and old can appreciate. A monkey, dressed in a tiny hat and a polka-dotted shirt, just wants to read his book. However, he is continually interupted by a donkey, err, a jackass, as he is labeled on the first page (does this make it wrong for young readers?) who wants to know what the book is. Our curious friend peppers the monkey with questions about the book: "Does it need a password? Can it play music? How do you scroll down?" Tired of trying to explain that "it's a book," the monkey hands it over, only to watch as his irritating companion becomes engrossed in the story of Long John Silver. So the monkey does what any self-respecting book lover would do. He leaves to go to the library, telling the donkey that he does not, in fact, have to charge the book for him when he's done - "it's a book, jackass."

Worth staying up past bedtime?
A book about a book that makes fun of the ever-encroaching world of electronic gadgets and toys? Absolutely worth staying up for! Any adult will appreciate the monkey's exasperated responses to the ever-curious and technology overloaded donkey, and tech-savvy youngsters are sure to be amused by the reparte as well. The illustrations are quite entertaining, and the finale of the whole discussion ("I'm going to the library") was just right.

Recommended for any age. Just be prepared to explain what a jackass is if you have young readers present!