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Why I Will Never Ever Ever Ever Have Enough Time to Read This Book
While reviewing her day-to-day chores and activities, a young girl is certain that she will never have time to finish her book, but she manages to open it for quick escapes throughout her busy day. 20,000 first printing.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2000
About the author
Remy Charlip
48 books36 followersAbraham 'Remy' Charlip (born January 10, 1929) was an American artist, writer, choreographer, theatre director, designer, and teacher.
He studied art at Straubenmuller Textile High School in Manhattan and fine arts at Cooper Union in New York, graduating in 1949.
In the 1960s, Charlip created a unique form of choreography, which he called "air mail dances". He sent a set of drawings to a dance company, and the dancers ordered the positions and created transitions and context.
He performed with John Cage, was a founding member of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company for which he also designed sets and costumes, directed plays for the Judson Poet's Theater, co-founded the Paper Bag Players, and served as head of the Children's Theater and Literature Department at Sarah Lawrence College.
He won two Village Voice Obie Awards, three New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year citations, and was awarded a six-month residency in Kyoto from the Japan/U.S. Commission on the Arts. He wrote and/or illustrated more than 30 children's books and passed away in San Francisco, California, on August 14, 2012.
He studied art at Straubenmuller Textile High School in Manhattan and fine arts at Cooper Union in New York, graduating in 1949.
In the 1960s, Charlip created a unique form of choreography, which he called "air mail dances". He sent a set of drawings to a dance company, and the dancers ordered the positions and created transitions and context.
He performed with John Cage, was a founding member of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company for which he also designed sets and costumes, directed plays for the Judson Poet's Theater, co-founded the Paper Bag Players, and served as head of the Children's Theater and Literature Department at Sarah Lawrence College.
He won two Village Voice Obie Awards, three New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year citations, and was awarded a six-month residency in Kyoto from the Japan/U.S. Commission on the Arts. He wrote and/or illustrated more than 30 children's books and passed away in San Francisco, California, on August 14, 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 31, 2018
Short answer: because she isn't even trying to read to read it.
I think I would have liked this more had I not spent too much time around people who complained continuously about how busy and overworked they are without actually doing their work.
Once I started reading this, I realized I had read it before and forgotten it. So, obviously not a book I loved, although I did like it. There were some cute pictures, lines, and jokes. Not either author or illustrator's best, however.
I think I would have liked this more had I not spent too much time around people who complained continuously about how busy and overworked they are without actually doing their work.
Once I started reading this, I realized I had read it before and forgotten it. So, obviously not a book I loved, although I did like it. There were some cute pictures, lines, and jokes. Not either author or illustrator's best, however.
May 31, 2019
A young girl is reading a book she is really enjoying but life gets in the way and daily tasks eat into reading time. The book gives a lot of description about daily life, preparing breakfast and getting up etc. so it might be an interesting book for the very young about daily routine. The style of the artwork didn't appeal to me and the book had a very 80's feel but a nice enough read.
Read on openlibrary
Read on openlibrary
February 21, 2010
When I was a child, my all time favorite book was a book of poetry and drawings by Remy Charlip called Arm in Arm. I still love the book and will read through it whenever I need a pick-me-up. Charlip has written many other books but for some reason I didn't read any of his others in my childhood. Now though when I see one of his books, I grab it. My most recent find was Why I Will Never Ever Ever Have Enough Time to Read This Book.
Besides the lure of it being written by Remy Charlip, the title had me in stitches. It must be the book blogger in me. Or maybe it's my obscenely large to be read pile. Or the wishlist that's two or three times as long as the to be read pile. Let's just say I completely relate to the title.
Better yet though, Charlip's picture book is a metafiction (just as Hand in Hand is metapoetry). The book is story and the story is the book. Whether or not the main character reads the book doesn't preclude her from experiencing everything contained within it's covers. Recursively, the main character within the book is also experiencing the same events and so on and so forth.
I read the book with my son. We took turns reading pages and I know he got some of the silliest and most blatant examples of the self referential plot but I haven't won him over yet to the awesomeness that is a Remy Charlip book. I loved the book; he merely liked it.
Besides the lure of it being written by Remy Charlip, the title had me in stitches. It must be the book blogger in me. Or maybe it's my obscenely large to be read pile. Or the wishlist that's two or three times as long as the to be read pile. Let's just say I completely relate to the title.
Better yet though, Charlip's picture book is a metafiction (just as Hand in Hand is metapoetry). The book is story and the story is the book. Whether or not the main character reads the book doesn't preclude her from experiencing everything contained within it's covers. Recursively, the main character within the book is also experiencing the same events and so on and so forth.
I read the book with my son. We took turns reading pages and I know he got some of the silliest and most blatant examples of the self referential plot but I haven't won him over yet to the awesomeness that is a Remy Charlip book. I loved the book; he merely liked it.
October 14, 2010
Logan enjoyed the Droste Effect of this book (picture in a picture in a picture) and the long list of things the little girl has to do every day that keep her from reading.
February 8, 2016
Charlip, Remy, and Jon J. Muth. Why I Will Never Ever Ever Ever Have Enough Time to Read This Book. Berkeley, CA: Tricycle, 2000. Print:
Summary: The narrator of this book is so busy that she thinks she will never have time to read the book that she is narrating. She has to prepare for school, make her bed, make breakfast and accomplish so many other chores. By the end of the book, she accomplished so many things that she didn 19t have time to read the book. This is a really cute book that young children will enjoy both as a read aloud and as a beginning reader. One of the reasons I really enjoyed this book was because of the diversity of the family illustrated. I recommend this book to K through 2 students.
Ridiculously Simple Synopsis: Little girl is so busy that she can 19t read this book.
Curriculum Connection: This book can be used to introduce reading books.
Reading Level: Elementary
Genre: Fiction
Characters:
Narrator: Little girl who is too busy to read this book.
Father: Little girl 19s father.
The Baby: Little girl 19s younger sibling.
Various Family Members: People appearing in the illustrations.
Summary: The narrator of this book is so busy that she thinks she will never have time to read the book that she is narrating. She has to prepare for school, make her bed, make breakfast and accomplish so many other chores. By the end of the book, she accomplished so many things that she didn 19t have time to read the book. This is a really cute book that young children will enjoy both as a read aloud and as a beginning reader. One of the reasons I really enjoyed this book was because of the diversity of the family illustrated. I recommend this book to K through 2 students.
Ridiculously Simple Synopsis: Little girl is so busy that she can 19t read this book.
Curriculum Connection: This book can be used to introduce reading books.
Reading Level: Elementary
Genre: Fiction
Characters:
Narrator: Little girl who is too busy to read this book.
Father: Little girl 19s father.
The Baby: Little girl 19s younger sibling.
Various Family Members: People appearing in the illustrations.
July 17, 2017
Charlip and Muth have both done some amazing work. This isn't up to par. So she's busy. Ok fine, but if she really wanted to read she'd be less absent-minded and make time. I do like that this is apparently some sort of group home for foster kids or something... lots of love going on. And I like the assorted students' answers to the teacher's question about dividing six apples among seven people. But overall, just weak.
And I could find no point to having the book the girl is trying to read being the book we're trying to get through.... maybe if I understood the creators' intent there I would like the book better.
And I could find no point to having the book the girl is trying to read being the book we're trying to get through.... maybe if I understood the creators' intent there I would like the book better.
September 20, 2018
When I first look at this book, I thought I would not like it since it did not strike me with the cover page. But, when I read this book, I very much enjoyed it. I like that the book itself is in the book with the main character trying to read the same book that I was reading. For example, when she was getting ready to shower for school, the book said the same thing as the one I was reading. This made me felt like I was apart of the book. There were so many mishaps throughout the story and why she could not read the book. The illustrations were okay but not the best. Overall, I liked this book.
May 19, 2018
This was a delightful read. I highly recommend it.
September 18, 2018
I've definitely had days like this. :)
April 20, 2021
This book makes me tired just reading it. Perfect for bedtime. It would be fun with older children to ask does the person really not have time to read the book, or how could she get the book read?
February 1, 2014
What an interesting, metafictional story about a young girl who cannot finish this book (the one that she's in). In some ways, it's a commentary of the never-ending cycle of our days and the ways in which we fill them up. It's also a touching tale of family togetherness.
The girl complains that she has far too much to do, but the items on her list are mainly the day-to-day chores and tasks we all must do. I love that she isn't being run from one activity to another, but instead is helping to run the household (which is fairly large and multi-cultural).
I love that she has responsibilities for the people, pets, and chores around the house and does them without being nagged to do so. She even mends her own clothes! And I absolutely love that the entire extended family sits down together to share the dinner the father has prepared.
The narrative is fun to read aloud, even if it is comprised mainly of the list of things the little girl has to accomplish. But the illustrations are fabulous and really help to tell the story, especially with the depiction of the little girl reading her own story. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
The girl complains that she has far too much to do, but the items on her list are mainly the day-to-day chores and tasks we all must do. I love that she isn't being run from one activity to another, but instead is helping to run the household (which is fairly large and multi-cultural).
I love that she has responsibilities for the people, pets, and chores around the house and does them without being nagged to do so. She even mends her own clothes! And I absolutely love that the entire extended family sits down together to share the dinner the father has prepared.
The narrative is fun to read aloud, even if it is comprised mainly of the list of things the little girl has to accomplish. But the illustrations are fabulous and really help to tell the story, especially with the depiction of the little girl reading her own story. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
October 15, 2020
Enjoyable book by one of my favorite illustrators and an all-time classic author.
The protagonist goes through her very busy day to explain why she didn't finish her book. This is a good book to teach narrative writing to little kids: it's written with very simple voice.
Also, it's an interesting picture walk, as the book mirrors the girl's actions throughout the day.
Reading this with a group of 1st graders, they mentioned how much they LOVED the big, multi-age, multi-cultural family (which is probably an apartment complex, but my little small-town kids didn't pick up on that... they loved the mix of characters nonetheless.)
The protagonist goes through her very busy day to explain why she didn't finish her book. This is a good book to teach narrative writing to little kids: it's written with very simple voice.
Also, it's an interesting picture walk, as the book mirrors the girl's actions throughout the day.
Reading this with a group of 1st graders, they mentioned how much they LOVED the big, multi-age, multi-cultural family (which is probably an apartment complex, but my little small-town kids didn't pick up on that... they loved the mix of characters nonetheless.)
December 24, 2012
3.5
I found this to be a very useful picture book, and believe there is a certain segment of society that should read it. (Young and Old)
It chronicles a girl trying to read a book throughout her day. Her "overschedule," or maybe (to me) perception of the stresses and severity of her day, cause her to lose track and not finish her book.
There was a little touch of genius, as the book the protagonist reads is the same book you are reading.
I found this to be a very useful picture book, and believe there is a certain segment of society that should read it. (Young and Old)
It chronicles a girl trying to read a book throughout her day. Her "overschedule," or maybe (to me) perception of the stresses and severity of her day, cause her to lose track and not finish her book.
There was a little touch of genius, as the book the protagonist reads is the same book you are reading.
Read
January 28, 2011This book is unusual. It could be used for a lesson on time or a daily schedule. Young kids would enjoy some of the main characters silly actions (showering with a book, leaving a book in the fridge). I think this book would be best suited for lower elementary school students, not middle or upper. The illustrations were nice and colorful...story was just a little strange and difficult to follow.
June 18, 2014
A young girl recounts all of the reasons in her hectic day that she doesn't have time to read this book. Exasperating and comical, featuring warm illustrations of a multicultural family, I like that this book acknowledges that many children have a lot going on at home and sometimes just can't get to that book or homework assignment, no matter how much they'd like to.
August 7, 2011
Age of readership: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Diversity: Multiracial characters, time management
Description of the illustrations: Watercolors
Personal response to the book: I enjoyed the book because it is the actual book she was suppose to read (a picture in a picture).
Curricular and programming connections: The book could be used in a classroom or library story time lesson on time management.
Genre: Picture Book
Diversity: Multiracial characters, time management
Description of the illustrations: Watercolors
Personal response to the book: I enjoyed the book because it is the actual book she was suppose to read (a picture in a picture).
Curricular and programming connections: The book could be used in a classroom or library story time lesson on time management.
March 5, 2012
It's a kinda cute story. It lists everything the little girl does in her chaotic day, showing how she just doesn't have time to read her book. She reminds me of myself; carrying the book around everywhere she goes but never actually finding time to read it. Except she keeps leaving it places. Just for the record, I have never, ever, ever left my book in the shower.
August 19, 2014
I've always wanted to write down literally every single thing I've done in a day from beginning to end. This book makes me want to do that even more. I like that the girl is holding a book that's pictures are identical to the pages she's on.
May 10, 2016
Excellent book to discuss making time for what's important. A reminder for the big people in our little people's lives to carve out time for matters such as reading even when life seems impossibly busy.
Illustrations by Jon J Muth, one of our favourite authors.
Illustrations by Jon J Muth, one of our favourite authors.
February 2, 2011
This was an alright book to read to a child who has recently learned how to read a clock and getting the idea of scheduling.
October 1, 2011
Interesting set up, but not nearly as witty and funny as I imagined. We did read this one more than once however, which usually is good.
September 14, 2011
A busy girl recounts all of the things she has to do in a day as she tries to find time to read.
March 28, 2012
Boy, am I glad that I am not as busy as this young lady is! I love to read too much, and would hate it if I didn't have time to read!
Read
August 6, 2016I don't actually remember this book, which was already not a good sign, but my comment back in 2008 was "couldn’t bring myself to care."
July 23, 2014
My 5-year-old liked how the author broke down every single thing she was doing and how the girl was reading the same book we were.
August 10, 2012
This book humorously explores a routine day in the life of girl who never has time to read a book.
August 19, 2015
Charming! Might lead to a good discussion about when your children/students read during the day/evening...and how to, as Donalyn Miller says, read on the edges!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews