Book: My Autobiography

John Agard, a celebrated poet, brings us a unique nonfiction chapter book where "Book" itself narrates its incredible journey through history. With a witty and idiosyncratic voice, Book explores its evolution from ancient papyrus scrolls and medieval manuscripts to the printing press and modern e-readers. The narrative touches on fascinating topics like the alphabet's development, the significance of libraries, and even the somber reality of book burning. Accompanied by Neil Packer's bold black-and-white illustrations, this book offers a captivating and poetic look at one of humankind's greatest inventions, perfect for sparking curiosity in children aged 4-11. It's an engaging way to introduce the history of communication and the enduring value of literature.

Books contain countless tales—but what if Book told its own story? From clay tablets to e-readers, here is a quirky, kid-friendly look at the book. Books are one of humankind’s greatest forms of expression, and now Book, in a witty, idiosyncratic voice, tells us the inside story. A wonderfully eccentric character with strong opinions and a poetic turn of phrase, Book tells of a journey from papyrus scrolls to medieval manuscripts to printed paper and beyond—pondering, along the way, many bookish things, including the evolution of the alphabet, the library (known to Egyptians as "the healing place of the soul"), and even book burning. With bold, black-and-white illustrations by Neil Packer, Book is a captivating work of nonfiction by one of England's leading poets.