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Picture Book Review: The Wall in the Middle of the Book

The Wall in the Middle of the Book Picture Book

Children's Books

Picture Book Review: The Wall in the Middle of the Book

I had to convince Madeline not to smuggle it into school today so I could do this review

Book Review Date: January 28th, 2019

Written by: Jon Agee

Cover Copy

The wall in the middle of this book is supposed to protect one side of the book from the other side

Supposed to

Review

When I first spotted this book, I was drawn to it by the title. It reminded me of the Monster At the End of This Book books, which I loved as a kid and which I’ve been reading to the girls. Of course, that wasn’t actually the case when I opened it, but it at least got my attention enough to pick it up. What I found inside, instead, was something even more fun!

There is an actual wall drawn into the spine of this book. On the left side of the book is a knight, and he is protected from all the dangerous things on the right side of the book by this big brick wall. His side happens to be missing a brick, so as he makes his way with a ladder to place the brick back into its spot, he tells the reader all about how much safer he is on his side of the book. What he doesn’t realize is the danger right behind and below him as he climbs the ladder and tells his tale. Meanwhile, on the right side of the book, dangerous animals appear to be trying to get over the wall (until a mouse scares them away) and then an Ogre comes by and notices that things are getting much worse for the poor knight on the left side, and plucks him from his doom. Now the knight is on the right side of the book and is coming to grips with whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing. (You’ll have to read it to see how it ends).

It’s a really cute book, but it also hides a great lesson about thinking your way or your side is so much better than another without really seeing the pitfalls or murky underside of what you think is absolutely the best. I think it’s a really good lesson and a very clever way of telling it. Plus, it’s just a super fun book! We laugh and point at all the things going on that the knight doesn’t notice and have a great time with this one. In fact, I had to convince Madeline not to smuggle it into school today so I could do this review!

Baby Ratings

  • Tear & Fold Resistance: 7/10
  • Font Readability: 10/10
  • Kid Engagement: 9/10
  • Mommy Engagement: 10/10

Reader, Author, Bookstagrammer, and Mom; Alexis runs Nerdy Post, a fandom artwork box as well as serves as chief editor and writer on Drop and Give me Nerdy.

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