Title: Books! Books! Books! Explore the Amazing Collection of the British Library
Author: Mick Manning
Illustrator: Brita Granström
Type: Nonfiction
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Date published: September 5, 2017
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 48
Source: Publisher

A physical copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: Calling all young bibliophiles! Peek inside the world’s greatest library and get the inside story on some of the rarest, oddest, most valuable, and best-loved books in its vaunted collection.

A tiny prayer book carried by a queen to her execution. An atlas so huge that it takes six people to lift it. A handmade gospel hidden in a saint’s coffin, and Shakespearean folios so precious they are kept in a bombproof storeroom. From stories of man-eating monsters, brave knights, and wicked witches to tales of lost children, magical creatures, haunted moors, and flying machines, award-winning duo Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom bring to life the extraordinary history of the book through the treasures of one of the greatest libraries in the world: the British Library.

– MY REVIEW –

I find it really great that nonfiction books like this exist for children. While I prefer, and adore, fiction, I also understand the importance of nonfiction and what it can teach not only children, but us adults as well. Even with this book, for example, there were some things that I had heard of, or knew about, but a lot of the information was also new to me and quite interesting to read about!

It is my belief that this book is important especially for children who love books and are inquisitive. This book can give them (and us) a general idea of some of the more important books out there, that have been around for many many years. The information in Books! Books! Books! could also become useful to them later! I liked that this book comes in a hardcover format, since paperback books (especially of this size) can become quite damaged with little to no effort on the part of their owners. This book is definitely sturdy, and I really like the shape of it, as well as the size of the pages.

The illustrations were also quite intriguing, and eye-catching, since they appear to be made out of a number of different textures and materials which were glued together. This will draw the attention of child (and adult) readers to the details within the illustrations, and what the text says about these details.

Overall, this was a very informative book, while also remaining entertaining, and enjoyable to experience visually. It has also added the British Library to the list of places I wish to visit when I finally make my way over to London, England!

– ABOUT THE AUTHOR –

Manning went to school in Keighley and then studied at at Bradford College. He studied illustration and graphic design at Newcastle Polytechnic (now the University of Northumbria) 1979 – 82 and then illustration and animation at the Royal College of Art London 1984-87 . Later he devised and ran the BA honours Illustration option at the Glasgow School of Art while maintaining a freelance career. In 1998 he resigned to concentrate on writing and illustrating children’s books full-time. Manning is known for his collaborations as author and co-illustrator with partner Brita Granström. Manning’s other children’s non fiction picture books include science titles such as: How Did I Begin? (this book looks at the amazing development of a human baby from fertilised egg to birth and was shortlisted for the Rhone Poulenc Prize in 1996) Woolly Mammoth (with the NHM, London), Dino Dinners (with the NHM, London), Nature Adventures and ‘What Mr Darwin Saw, (this book about the life of Charles Darwin and his discoveries was shortlisted for the Royal Society’s science book prize in 2011.)

– ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR –

Brita Granström is an award-winning children’s book illustrator, often collaborating with her associate and partner, the author and illustrator Mick Manning. Together, the pair have produced children’s books such as What’s Under The Bed? winner of the 1997 T.E.S Award, The World is Full of Babies winner of The 1996 Silver Smarties/Nestle award and Greek Hero winner of the 2008 English Association Award. Their book Tail-End Charlie was shortlisted for The Blue Peter Book Awards 2010 and nominated for the 2010 Carnegie Medal. The partner to this was published in 2010 and titled Taff in the WAAF (about Manning’s mother’s war service for Bletchley Park) and won the English Association Award in 2011. Granström was elected as a Fellow of the English Association in May 2011.

– PURCHASE LINKS –

THANK YOU FOR READING MY REVIEW! HAVE YOU READ THIS BOOK? WHAT DID YOU THINK? AND IF YOU HAVEN’T READ IT YET, DO YOU WANT TO, OR NOT? HOW COME? LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!