It’s funny, it’s informative, it’s clever, and the illustrations are great. “Read the Book, Lemmings!” by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Zachariah OHora is a must-have for toddlers and kids through third grade. The adults reading the book will love it, too!
The book begins with some facts about lemmings:
“lemmings: small, fuzzy, illiterate rodents who share the icy North with arctic foxes and polar bears. People used to think lemmings jumped off cliffs. Now we know they don’t.”
Foxy, Captain PB, and three lemmings are in the Arctic. Foxy reads his book about lemmings and comments on the fact that they really don’t jump off cliffs. The lemmings hear the word “jump” and do it. Foxy scoops them up, gives them hats and names, and scolds them. He advises them to “Read the book, lemmings!” They do not. They jump again and again.
After much patience and clever investigation, Foxy and the Captain realize that the lemmings can’t read. So they teach them to read. The lemmings read the book.
The lemmings finally understand that lemmings don’t jump. But the not-so-clever lemmings come up with a new (faulty) conclusion that will make readers chuckle. And want to read this silly and adorable book once more.
It’s perfect for a preschool, a kindergarten classroom, a school library, or a child’s bookshelf. But be forewarned, it might just become a child’s favorite nighttime story.
Please note: This review is based on the final, hardcover book provided by the publisher, Little, Brown and Company, for review purposes.