The Day the Books Disappeared

by Joanna Ho, Caroline Kusin Pritchard, Dan Santat (Illustrator)

All-star authors Joanna Ho (Eyes That Kiss in the Corners) and Caroline Kusin Pritchard (The Keeper of Stories) team up with Caldecott Medalist and National Book Award Winner Dan Santat in this celebration of the freedom to read.

Arnold didn't mean for the books to disappear—not exactly. It all started because he liked his book about airplanes best. Why would anyone want to read about tomatoes or ostriches or submarines (ew, the worst!) when they could read about planes, instead?

When Arnold realizes—POOF!—he can make the other books vanish, he goes a little too far. Before he knows it, all the books are gone…including his. Can Arnold figure out how to bring them back before it’s too late?

This book about books celebrates themes of empathy, interconnectedness, and the value of diverse and differing perspectives.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Books About Books, Fiction, School, Friendship, Humor

40 pages, Hardcover

First published July 15, 2025

About the author

Joanna Ho Bradshaw is the author of Eyes that Kiss in the Corners (HarperCollins, Jan 2021), Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma (HarperCollins, Fall 2021), and One Day (Winter 2023). She is a writer and educator with a passion for anti-bias, anti-racism and equity work. She holds a BA in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, and a master’s from the Principal Leadership Institute at Berkeley. She has been an English teacher, a dean, the designer of an alternative-to-prison program, and a professional development mastermind. She is currently the vice principal of a high school in the Bay Area, where she survives on homemade chocolate chip cookies, outdoor adventures, and dance parties with her kids. Keep your eyes open for more books to come!

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really subtle but powerful picture book about banning and learning to accept that liking different things is okay and shouldn't be something to be scared of. I loved the message of this book and how one boy who loved airplanes took the time to learn what things his friends liked when all their books disappeared. Highly recommended!

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. A boy who loves reading about planes learns that other subjects can make his friends just as happy.

[DaNae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a boring story, wrapped up in a heavy handed message.

[Laurel Zeisler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was terrific. It told a message without being preachy. Also, loved the illustrations.

[Catarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun book. I think it was perfect for 3+ ages, but also the illustrations made for a perfect picture book for younger ages. So, a book for everyone!

The story was fun; it started off just right, had a great middle, and a heartwarming and terrific ending.

Truly, this was a fantastic book. I would highly recommend.

I’ll need to start looking into more books published by Hyperion.

[Chrissy]

Introduction to the pitfalls of book banning in picture book form. You can read what you want to read and you should let others read what they want to read. Power shouldn't rest in the hands of a person who thinks the only books that should be available are books that they want to read.

[JC · Rating 5 out of 5]

[4.5/5]

This week the authors of this book had their speaking event at a school canceled after admins asked them not to speak about the current book banning landscape. Seems like that’d be hard considering that is the core of the text….

In any case, this is an excellent way to explain to young children the importance of intellectual freedom. It takes the simple approach, we all like different things. The different things we like make us happy. We may not agree on what to like most, but it’s most important that we allow space for people to explore their interests on their own. I just feel this is so perfectly executed; it’s a really difficult concept to distill down and hats off the authors on getting it right. Love to see artists collaborate on sharing democratic values in such an understandable way.

[Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those children’s books that is as much for the adult as it is for the kid.

It is a story that starts out cute and fantastical, and ends up surprising with a lesson about tolerance and understanding for things we don’t personally like. Kids won’t take it any further than that (which is totally okay), but as they grow up, hopefully that lesson expands to the recognition that trying to ban or censor different points of view is wrong. You don’t need to like, agree, or even understand in order to respect other people’s ways of life, but you’ll probably find that sharing and learning about things from each other’s lives will become one of your all-time favorites things to do as well!

[Bekah Hubstenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids won’t understand the subtext but hopefully adults will. All of this is brilliant and when Arnold’s own book disappears as a consequence of disappearing the last of his friends’ books I was in awe. Joanna Ho burst on the scene with a beautiful book that addresses one of the things our current administration and book banners hate—diversity—and here she solidifies herself as an author unafraid to take a stand. Dan Santat signing on as the illustrator is also an enormous deal as any book with his name has immediate market power.

Recommend for all collections!

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different way of dealing with the subject of book-banning and censorship. If only we were banning books because we didn't think gay people should exist or that anyone ever did anything wrong in the past (especially white people). Still finding a way to get the idea in people's heads is a good one. And the art and the characters and writing in this one also make it a good story.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to do Banned Books Week with the elementary crowd, this is the perfect book.

[Deke Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kid friendly way to help conceptualize book bans

[Aneesa]

I did not really think the content delivered the message.

[Nancycampbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great subtle message about the importance of book choice. Highlights the value of perspective and empathy. Santat's illustrations are fabulous.

[Ann Haefele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great message about why having the freedom to choose what books to read is so important. Not preachy either!

[Stan Yan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always amazed that a book as short as this can be as impactful as this.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short book about making the effort to understand everybody has different interests and that its always fun to learn about other things.

[CYBILS Awards]

Thanks John Schu for the lead (and the cover image). https://mrschureads.blogspot.com/2025...

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arnold loves his book about airplanes. He loves it so much, he can't understand why anyone would want to read a book about anything else. Why read about tomatoes or ostriches or robots when the best book is about planes. So he wishes the other books away. He is so happy! But his friends are sad. Then Arnold's book disappears also. He tries to bring them back but he can't until he begins to grasp empathy -- his friend likes to read books about tomatoes because they remind her of her grandmother. Arnold realizes that everyone should be able to read what they want even if it is something you don't like or don't want to read.

This book could be used in a positive way to start a discussion about freedom to read. I recently saw a reel where a library had put up a display on pickles. Someone who hated pickles came in and started taking down all the books -- because if she doesn't like pickles then no one should be able to read about pickles. It was from a library in Canada but it would be good to pair something like that with reading this book.
And peek under the dust jacket - the cover of the book is very different than the dust jacket! In a good way.

[Jared White · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important book that shows why libraries and classrooms have all sorts of books and why people's reasons for liking a book or subject may be complex. Someone may like a book you do not because it reminds them of a loved one, or you're unfamiliar with the topic, so you don't know how fascinating it is. Someone may even like a book about a subject that you think you dislike, but some of the reasons they like the subject are the same as your reasons for liking your favorite thing!

I like that this also shows that even if you get rid of every other book or topic, that doesn't mean that people will fall in love with yours.

I think this could work well in a storytime for elementary school students and could help start a discussion about censorship. Most kids are pretty smart and passionate when it comes to fairness. I think this book, with a bit of discussion, could demonstrate how unfair it is that sometimes, even though they're some kids' favorite books, certain books get taken away because someone doesn't like them.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joanna Ho has a new picture book out? And it is illustrated by Dan Santat? Sign. Me. Up.

I grabbed this off the library’s new book shelf so fast! With the massive number of books being banned, The Day the Books Disappeared is a simple story that is full of lessons in empathy. Dan Santat’s artwork always brings a smile to my face: so vibrant and cheerful. Joanna Ho is joined by new-to-me author Caroline Kusin Pritchard in penning the words that will make readers of all ages stop and think. The message is a reminder that we need to be putting capital U’s on the faces of those around us not invoking an idea that leads to a lower-case U.

A brief author’s note spells out that this group of creators wants to see a freedom to read: “Even if ideas and experiences are different from our own and may even feel uncomfortable at first, building empathy and understanding is more important than ever…let’s fight for the books, stories, and histories that help us really see and know one another!”

[Dean McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE DAY THE BOOKS DISAPPEARED by Joanna Ho, Caroline Kusin Pritchard, Dan Santat (Illustrator) -- It has become popular in some communities and states to censor, ban, or remove books that someone funds objectionable. This short work could be used with children to explore and illustrate the topic. Arnold enjoys reading books about airplanes. When he discovers that other children enjoy reading about other subjects, such as tomatoes, ostriches, and submarines, he realizes that he has the power to make those books with other subjects disappear, which he does. But he discovers that he has also made his book about airplanes also disappear. As Arnold discusses with other students the subjects that they enjoy reading about, the other books reappear, and Arnold learns that it's good when other people like other things that interest them and make them happy. The subtle lesson to learn is that diversity and empathy are good qualities to exhibit. Recently published in July 2025, this book and its author have already been banned in some quarters.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bunch of clever touches pushes this book from enjoyable to fabulous. Under the book jacket, the book cover looks like the book that Arnold is reading in the story. The pretend 'crayon' markings that make it look like the book has been 'drawn' in by an enthusiastic child. And Arnold, a very relatable child, who doesn't understand how the other students in his class can be interested in anything other than airplanes, like him. (This is true of many children, who often share their disdain with their teachers, librarians, and classmates). What I love about the book is the way that Arnold learns to appreciate others' interests and even expands his own interests in the process. As he wishes for the other books to disappear, he inadvertently causes his own book to disappear which upsets him a great deal. He searches for a way to get his book back and in the process opens his own mind to the perspectives of his classmates. The way the author refers to smiles and frowns as "Us" and "upside-down Us" makes for some fun imagery. As always, Santat's illustrations are delightful with a lot of kid-appeal. Those airplane and submarine drawings are especially eye-popping. A great book for encouraging students to expand their horizons and appreciate the fact that others have interests different than their own. The book also highlights the dangers found in banning books that may be exactly what others may want and need. Highly recommended for both individual and group reading.

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

7 October, 2025

I'm a fan of Santat's work, so the cover caught my eye.

I'm deeply pleased to have picked this up: I hope others enjoy it just as much, too. I was having one of those days when everything is annoying, and this cheered me up no end. The story is cute and the message is earnest, but not cloying. To my delight, my husband caught me opening it and immediately identified one of the planes upside down from across the room.

This is also a lovely shout out and gesture of support for the librarians, teachers, parents, and readers fighting for collections for the diverse populations they serve and belong to. Book challenges have been draining and frustrating and painful for public schools and libraries, overwhelming the ability to consider sincere objections for specific and personal reasons. Even the best books can be inappropriate in some circumstances, after all.

Charming book, good vibes, highly recommended.

Library copy, natch.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ironically I was waiting on this book to come in to my library to read when I saw Dan Santat post about how Ho and Pritchard were disingenuously uninvited from their author visit to a school that was already approved unless they didn't really talk about book banning and censorship. They refused to abide by silly guidelines when their creative work was on the docket to be discussed to a group of little kids who were queued up in the gym already.

This book is a serious and goofy look at the boy with the powers to make the books disappear because he wasn't too sure he liked the books and topics his friends were reading about because only his were the coolest. But he realizes the error of his ways and what would happen IF the books truly disappeared. It's a clever way to open the conversation up about "books disappearing" and Ho and Pritchard's approach coupled with Santat's illustrations were entertaining and thoughtful.

[Kathy Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED, loved, LOVED this book. I read this to my 5th graders today to spark a conversation about how we understand each other and, of course, to speak about banned books. It sparked SO MANY fantastic conversations. The authors’ portrayal of a jubilant Arthur poofing books while he enjoys his own…until he can’t, and then bringing those books back after having conversations with his classmates is nothing short of genius. What a way to use a medium to talk about something that, in this day and age, we struggle to talk about without sparking argument. Yet here we have a young man who through his initial actions and correction of his actions, teach a valuable lesson: we need to try and understand each other, which takes effort, before simply casting judgement and devaluing what others may value themselves.
I absolutely love this book and will continue to share it with 5th graders EVERY year that I can.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

1-2 sentences per page. Probably good for late K-1st grade. About a boy who makes his friends' books disappear but then sees how his friends get sad, and his book disappears too! He learns why people read different types of books and begins to understand, even finding connection points when he didn't think it was possible! The story ends with the books coming back and him realizing his favorite thing to do is read with others who are reading different things too! A very clear message on not book-banning and encouraging the freedom to read. As the end matter says, the book "highlight[s] the importance of our collective freedom to read. Even if ideas and experiences are different from our own and may even feel uncomfortable at first, building empathy and understanding is more important than ever...So, let's fight for the books, stories, and histories that help us really see and know one another!" Illustrations are realistic detailed with some caricature.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lesson more adults could stand to learn: allowing other people to enjoy things does not mean we also have to love those things, nor does it diminish our own passions.

Arnold learns this lesson in a fairly gentle way, as he finds himself wondering how anyone could be interested in books about anything other than the airplane book he finds fascinating. As he wonders, he inadvertently causes his classmates' books to disappear, and when his own book disappears, Arnold realizes that his own interests overlap substantially with the others'. And then when Arnold takes the time to learn more about everyone else's interests, the books come back.

A bit on-the-nose, but unfortunately, some people need to be battered over the head with a message before it sinks in. And worse, some people need to be affected personally before realizing or caring that others are affected at all. But we do get there in the end.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arnold's happy place is sitting on his favorite beanbag and reading his favorite book about planes. He doesn't get why anyone would be interested in any other books or topics. Arnold really wants others to be interested in his book and he starts wishing that their books would disappear and they do! Arnold isn't really understanding why everyone is upset until he accidentally makes his book vanish as well. This is an entertaining picture book with a great message about being empathetic to the interest of others and that it can be fun to read and share.

"Reading it made his mouth curve into a capital U."

"Planes are flying submarines!
Submarines are swimming planes!"

"Arnold didn't realize things could be different and sort of the same, too."

[Amanda Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Day the Books Disappeared is a beautiful picture book filled with illustrations that capture the eyes of any reader, young and old. But it also uses words to help readers understand the feelings and thoughts of the characters. On the surface, it’s a book about a kid who doesn’t understand why people don’t like the same book he does. However, I truly feel like this book could apply to a bigger conversation about how the end result is what matters. Arnold’s end result is that he feels everybody should love to read and slowly he figures out that maybe it’s not what they read that’s important. It’s not how the person gets to the end result that is important. This is absolutely a wonderful book to have both in a classroom or a child’s library.