Too Many Books!

Sylvia Pantaleo is an associate professor of education, specializing in
children’s literature, at the University of Victoria. She is the
co-author of Learning with Literature in the Canadian Elementary
Classroom.

Nicholas encounters many problems throughout the course of the day. He
experiences difficulties tying his shoelaces, brushing his teeth,
bathing his cat, and riding his bike. His family members and friends
give him books to read so that he can learn how to overcome each of his
problems. By the end of the day, when Nicholas goes to the library with
his good neighbour Veronica, he is satiated with reading instructional
material. But Veronica points out all the different kinds of books that
he can enjoy, and Nicholas goes home with a “pirate adventure, a book
about knights and a funny story.” When Nicholas begins to read the
humorous story, his bursts of laughter draw the attention of his family
members and Veronica. He shares the book with them as they eagerly
listen.

The story is very enjoyable, even though its messages are didactic: a
somewhat reluctant reader is introduced to the world of books, public
reading, and the aesthetic pleasure of recreational reading. The
amusing, comic-book-style watercolour illustrations add another layer of
humour to the story: young readers will delight in following the
escapades of the white mouse in the illustrations. Recommended.