How to Read a Book

by Kwame Alexander, Melissa Sweet (Illustrator)

A stunning new picture book from Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander and Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet! This New York Times bestselling duo has teamed up for the first time to bring you How to Read a Book, a poetic and beautiful journey about the experience of reading.

Find a tree—a

black tupelo or

dawn redwood will do—and

plant yourself.

(It’s okay if you prefer a stoop, like Langston Hughes.)

With these words, an adventure begins. Kwame Alexander’s evocative poetry and Melissa Sweet’s lush artwork come together to take readers on a sensory journey between the pages of a book.

Genres: Picture Books, Poetry, Childrens, Books About Books, Art, African American, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 18, 2019

About the author

Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and New York Times Bestselling author of 21 books, including The Crossover, which received the 2015 John Newbery Medal for the Most Distinguished Contribution to American literature for Children, the Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor, The NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, and the Passaic Poetry Prize. Kwame writes for children of all ages. His other works include Surf's Up, a picture book; Booked, a middle grade novel; and He Said She Said, a YA novel.

Kwame believes that poetry can change the world, and he uses it to inspire and empower young people through his PAGE TO STAGE Writing and Publishing Program released by Scholastic. A regular speaker at colleges and conferences in the U.S., he also travels the world planting seeds of literary love (Singapore, Brazil, Italy, France, Shanghai, etc.). Recently, Alexander led a delegation of 20 writers and activists to Ghana, where they delivered books, built a library, and provided literacy professional development to 300 teachers, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an International literacy program he co-founded.

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

My family reads all the Goodreads-award-nominated picture books every year. This is book #13 (of more than 20) of 2019, and statistically this looks like one of there two best of the year for my family. It's a fairly predictable (and marketable) topic for a book to be purchased by elementary school teachers, parents and librarians about reading, but it features colorful collage art we (collectively) at least found unique and interesting

Lyra (12) 4.5. If I ever wrote a book [go, Lyra, the budding artist!] this would be one my choices for art style and fonts, all over the place. I love the collages. So many patterns, colors and pictures. It's so fun to look at. Every page looks like it is from a different book I have never read. Oh, a couple pages

Hank (13): 4. For a book about learning how to read, it is pretty hard to read. Okay, but it's kinda fun to read, really.

Harry (14): 4.5. Fun art, but it is confusing at the start and at different places.

Tara: 4. Loved the art. And I thought the poem would be hokey but it turned out really nice.

Dave: 3.5. As an adult I though the collage approach was interesting and colorful but I agree with Hank, for sa book about how to read the art makes it almost impossible for little kids too read. The flat and largely unoriginal poem is about the joys of reading, ideal for librarians but not for kids.

[Kate · Rating 1 out of 5]

For a book on 'How to read a book" this is really hard to read... like physically, it is hard to read the actual text. The collage like art combined with overly bright colors and mismatched patchwork font choices are jarring to the eye. This isn't to say the art itself is bad, but having hard to read font in a book for children is generally a poor choice. I'm not sure what they were thinking, but some poor design choices were made on this one. Shame on the art director for not catching this. The text is your standard Kwame Alexander poetry, though some of the word choices come off a little... sensual.

The text itself is not bad, but I had trouble actually reading this. My fellow librarians and co-workers had the same problem.

[kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know some will disagree but I found the book very hard to read. While I enjoyed the artful illustrations, I felt that a young child who may try to read this would have difficulty due to the font style interspersed with the collage work. I love the poem. I love the artwork. I don't love them together.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been fine, but the writing was almost indistinguishable from the art, which made it really difficult to read the actual poetry. I couldn’t make it through while I was at the store today. I will have to dedicate some actual time to it, which I assume I would if I were to purchase it, but... ehhh. To summarize, I did not enjoy the art style. No comment on the poetry since I was UNABLE TO CONCENTRATE ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY READ IT.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lush and psychedelic collage on the exploration of reading. It felt like an acid trip with pages popping out in neon colors and torn strips and verses of wandering fingers, rustling pages, and blooming souls. Yet this is a child's picture book. Go figure.

[Mary Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Melissa Sweet pulled out all the stops on this one. Hidden Nikki Grimes quote in the spread between the title page and the dedication page, before Kwame's poem begins (took me about four reads to find it). Gatefold, two small pages with cutouts, neon colors, and of course her amazing collages and lettering. The illustrations kind of overwhelm the poem a bit, if I'm going to be honest, but I love Kwame's metaphor of reading: peeling and eating a clementine. I'm feeling like lots of clementines are going to be consumed in book-love reenactment of this poem! (And how did the publisher get the book to smell of citrus when you open it?!?!) This is a book to go back to over and over again so you can find all the SWEET little details Melissa tucked into the illustrations, and to write Kwame's poem onto your reader's heart.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yup, yup, soak this one up!!

[Rod Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

Goodreads Choice Awards Project: Read as many of the opening round Best Picture Book nominees as possible. 9 to go!

Visual and verbal gibberish make for the instruction manual from hell. Why did a copy of Bambi have to be sacrificed for this collage-strophe?

And I was never able to ascertain the purpose of the recurring X's, targets and asterisks. Any ideas?

[Shari (Shira) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous book by a dynamic duo. Adult book nerds will appreciate the incredible artwork, clever language, and connections to notable poets. Kid book nerds will enjoy the clever structural features. OK, the adults like the structural features, too.

[Laura Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in awe of How to Read a Book! The gorgeous cover art draws you in and the text wow's you! Melissa Sweet is one of the very best picture book illustrator's of our time. She has topped herself with this one. Every page is an inspired wonder. There isn't a question in my mind that How to Read a Book will win awards. It is spectacular.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one would likely not make a good read aloud because of how busy the pages are and how the words are illustrated making it harder to read. As a lap story, it would be good, and has a beautiful way of saying what it has to say.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a dilemma! She is one of my favorite illustrators. I love poetry. Put these together and it should be a WIN!

No.

The illustrations tangled me badly. I was lost and ill-sorted and ill-suited against the collages and bright pops. *hangs head in defeat* What I normally cherish lead me astray and befuddled me; I feel frustrated and vexed. I kept checking and re-checking each page to make sure that I didn't miss anything. I would love to use this as a read-aloud, but I would PRACTICE. Hard.

This will frustrate. Some. And dazzle others. How to rate this??? 5+ stars for the content?! 1 star for the frustration? Calling it in the middle to be fair. *sigh*

[Care · Rating 5 out of 5]

How fun, an ode to reading. Instructional in the best way. "Once you're comfy, peel its gentle skin, like you would a clementine...Next, did your thumb at the bottom of each juicy section and POP the words out." I can't decide if I prefer the illustrations or the writing better, both are so complementary and enjoyable. Check this book out!

[Liesl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Images: 2 stars
Story: 2 stars

For a book called How to Read it sure is hard to read with it's neon colors and unusual fonts. And the description of reading "peel its gentle skin..." really creeped me out. Just in general not a fan of this book which means it will probably win an award.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyrical, beautiful, mesmerizing. The power of reading a form of bibliotherapy in itself. Bookart collages and zany colourways abound. Love it.

[melhara · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5/5

SURPRISE!
It's a book party
stacked with all
your favorite
friends:
A picnic of
words+sounds
in leaps+bounds

This is a picture book poem about the joy of reading.

While I thought the poem was pretty good, I found it to be a bit too abstract for kids - for example, it describes opening a book as "peel its gentle skin, like you would a clementine".

If I'm being perfectly honest, I wasn't the biggest fan of the collage-style illustrations either. I found them to be way too chaotic and messy. The text was also often hard to read, because of the strange fonts and clashing colors.

[Kaya W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh...it was ok.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book as I've read rave reviews on it. While I do love the poem that this is based on, the art form used to illustrate the book made some of the pages very difficult to read. I found myself double checking to make sure I read everything that I was supposed to. I'm thinking younger readers may have the same issue.

[Amy! · Rating 5 out of 5]

KWAME!! SWOON.

Also, I would like several of these illustrations for my walls.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the poem that Kwame wrote as an ode to books and reading. I liked the brightness of the illustrations and found it interesting that the illustrator used pieces of a worn favorite book in her collages. However, overall, I found the illustrations to be a distraction from the print.

[Ben Truong · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Read a Book is a children's picture book written Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Melissa Sweet, which is a wonderful ode to reading.

Alexander's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and lyrical. It depicts the joys and wonders of reading with verse and beautiful imagery. Sweet's illustrations riff on his verse, line by line, imbuing spreads with the feel of a continually evolving, handmade love letter.

The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It is simply a love letter to reading and the many adventures it could take us. Alexander’s love poem to literacy conjures up startling, luscious images, which was wonderfully depicted by Sweet.

All in all, How to Read a Book is a wonderful children's book and an equally wonderful tribute and love letter to reading.

[Eti · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true dream team with Kwame Alexander's beautiful poetry (I believe I first saw a version of this poem in the Scholastic Open a World of Possible book) paired with Melissa Sweet's signature collage style that captures the magic of devouring the written word. A tribute to the power of books made from words from books, specifically Bambi, although I'm so curious where the rest of them are from. I can't wait for the behind the scenes making of this incredible book, as well as the chance to see it in real life, and not the digital galley. Highly recommended.

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am reading all the Goodreads Picture Book Recommendations for 2019.

Hmmm, this is an unusual book. I can't say I didn't like it, though. It's very different from picture books I usually encounter.

I usually don't get poetry at all, but this is a very simple poem, and I got it, and I felt something.

The illustrations are collages, and I thought it made it a little hard to read. Collages are another thing I don't usually get.

I would not choose this for a snuggly read-aloud to children.

[Candace · Rating 3 out of 5]

A poem about how to read a book. The artwork is busy and brilliantly colorful, mixed with collages and cutouts. At times I felt the poem got lost in the artwork. I had to read pages more than once to make sure I was seeing it correctly. I recommend this book as a one on one reading experience.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Read a Book is a piece-of-art tribute to reading and books and joy. The illustrations are as delicious as the words. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

[Alexandria · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was unique and I get what they were going for but honestly it was hard to read and the collage was off putting.

[Ann Haefele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found this difficult to read as both the words and pictures seemed to overwhelm me. (Ironic that a book titled “How to read a book” is hard to read. )

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bright colorful collage art by Caldecott honoree Melissa Sweet intertwines with Kwame Alexander's passion for poetry and the written word to remind us all about the joy of discovery through reading and inflaming a child's imagination. I disagree with the reviewers who found the book hard to read; I was entranced by the multifaceted, rainbow-hued illustrations and the perfect descriptions of reading and books - "Once you're comfy, peel its gentle skin, like you would a clementine the color of sunrise." Alexander references Langston Hughes on the second page, but careful readers will find another allusion to his work. What a lovely salutation to reading, to art, to creativity! Definitely a book for book lovers.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a story about how to read a book, the author and illustrator have collaborated to create a disastrous introduction to reading for wee ones who are just getting the hang of making letters, let alone making sense of them. Each chaotic page is a challenge for even the most skilled adult readers to interpret. Yes, Alexander’s poem is lovely, and Sweet’s artwork is eye candy, but the combination creates a classic example of a children’s book written for adults, completely missing the mark for the intended audience.

[Kate Willis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I dearly love this illustrator's style, so I picked this book up not knowing anything else about it. Some of the pictures were enjoyable, and I liked a few of the metaphors in the poem. Unfortunately, the decision to do the text in a collage style mixed with the pictures made it very hard for me to read. I also didn't connect well with the poem, but that's just me. ;)