One day in the school library, a boy chooses a book from the shelves. He’s the first to admit he doesn’t like reading. The title of his chosen book is very strange – The Book That Wouldn’t Read.

The next thing he notices is a word on the cover that seems to vanish. What?

He tries to tell his teacher but she tells him it’s reading time, no talking. He looks back at the book, thinking…

“What could I do? I had to keep reading.”

All is fine for a moment, then the words jump high, then slink down low. Some even flip upside down!

Again, he tries to tell his teacher. But she hushes him quiet.

Another look down at the page sees ever wilder things happening. The words swirl, change colour and even leap straight out of the book! What the heck!

Searching for the runaway words around him in the library bring more…

“SSSHHH!” 

Words whizz and pop and spin in between a whirlwind of pictures. No story is to be found, but the boy begins to recognise things in this book. It doesn’t want to be read. It finds it hard to concentrate. It even tells him to be disruptive in class!

More wild things happen between the pages as he works his way through, until finally he reaches the end. Pleased with himself, he reaches for another book…

Such an imaginative premise for a book! A book that doesn’t want to be read. A book that makes it difficult for any reader to concentrate on its words and illustrations, hiding any story that might be there. A book whose contents won’t lie still no matter how much its reader tries to read it.

Many Dyslexic or Reluctant readers will be able to identify with all that is happening within the pages of this disruptive book. Except it’s not them struggling to read it, trying to focus, or gain any kind of understanding – it’s the book itself not playing the game.

In a school library setting, we can focus on the boy and the contents of his mischievous book as he works his way through. Book and boy finally make peace and he reaches the end with the joy of finishing a book. I love it that he reaches for another one.

Also available in te reo – Te Pukapuka ka Kore e Pānuihia

Author – Tim Tipene

Illustrator – Nicoletta Benella

Picture Book

(2023, Oratia Books, NZ, New Zealand, Aotearoa, Reading difficulties, Dyslexia, Books, Dyslexic, Reluctant Readers, Library, Quiet Reading, Reading Time, Funny)