The creator of Where’s Mary’s Hat? (2003) glorifies a message near and dear to librarians’ hearts. Our hero, Mr. Katapat, looks like an ordinary man but he’s really a great adventurer. Every day he heads to the library, where the excitement begins—because “books are his passport to adventure!” Each one takes him on a new escapade: exploring the jungle, meeting Mr. Lincoln, warding off pirates, facing a kung fu master, slaying a dragon, and even solving mysteries. But his own life isn’t that exciting until he has a real-life adventure while reading a love story. Barroux’s quirky illustrations of oddly proportioned figures and stylized images are a perfect foil for the brief text; the cover, with Mr. Katapat reading a book in a space rocket, sets the stage and will lure readers. Sure to be a big hit with children’s librarians and other champions of reading. (Picture book. 4-7)
