YOU, ARE A GREAT STORY

A man challenges his three young relatives to create a story at bedtime in Loosley’s debut interactive, fast-paced picture book.

When Uncle Adam asks his nephews and niece what tale they want to read before they go to sleep, they reply, “a really great one!” Each child supplies their own ideas about what makes a great story, and readers can choose to follow Casen’s, Keira’s, or Kesler’s storyline by jumping to designated pages. This aspect of choice is sure to keep little children hooked. Henke’s brightly colored, cartoonish illustrations accompany the work; some images lean into stereotypes with voluptuous mermaids and male pirates, but others feature active, heroic princesses and a character with a rainbow-flag T-shirt. Afterward, the trio of kids agree that the creative “adventure was a blast!” The message is a simple one: the kids are their own stories—the happy and sad moments and the characters and places all come together to create something unique. The kids thus head to bed dreaming of their “NEXT GREAT STORY.” However, although the message is designed to encourage children to create, the text’s vocabulary feels simplistic and underdeveloped.

A book with an intriguing concept and engaging imagery that’s let down by bland prose.