Just a Story

by Jeff Mack

Reading is wild, dangerous... fantastic! The possibilities are endless, the perils enormous--good thing it's just a story.

A boy happens upon a discarded book that transforms a library into an escalating series of near misses and close encounters with dastardly pirates, a herd of scooter-riding elephants, a big blue whale, and is that an alien in an Elvis wig?

But surprise, he escapes without a scratch, because it's just a story...

With an exuberant art style reminiscent of newspaper comic strips, illustrator Jeff Mack brings imagination to life in this riotous tale about the power of reading.

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Humor, Books About Books, Childrens, Juvenile, Adventure

32 pages, Hardcover

Published September 8, 2020

About the author

Born in Syracuse, New York, Jeff Mack has written and illustrated a long list of picture books, chapter books, and early readers, including Clueless McGee, Good News Bad News, Frog and Fly, the Hippo and Rabbit series, and Hush Little Polar Bear.

He has also illustrated many books for other authors, including James Howe's Bunnicula and Friends series and Eve Bunting's Hurry! Hurry!, one of School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2007.

At home in Easthampton, Massachusetts, he continues to write, illustrate, and visit schools and libraries to talk about his work. Visit him at www.jeffmack.com.

Bio taken from Jeff's website: http://www.jeffmack.com/short_biograp....
More biographical information can be found at http://www.jeffmack.com/biography.html.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little boy lives a thousand lifetimes, and narrowly avoids great danger, as he sits reading.

This is but a fun reminder that anything can happen in a book . . . and it most certainly will!

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a forewarning for anyone who decides to pick a book from the library shelves. Anything is bound to happen once the reader turns the pages, but always remember, it's just a story. A fun read read with excellent and humorous art work.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little boy is in a library or a bookstore and is reading a book, and is almost captured by pirates, almost stomped by a herd of elephants, almost taken by an alien. Really nice simple story about imaginations going free while reading. Love the illustrations

[MeganRuth - Alohamora Open a Book · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple story about the fun of a book in "taking you" anywhere. The writing isn't a Wow for me, but the story is cute.

[JoyAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 4 and 6 year old got a kick out of this adventurous book that may be "just a story" but sure kept them hooked while I read it out loud. A fun, simple, quick read with imagination.

[Kris Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A read aloud gem

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

The power of imagination

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children will love this book! The stories come alive as a little boy is absorbed reading his book. An elderly woman is on a couch in the background of each page. They are at a library. First pirates attempt to harm the boy, but he keeps reading. More and more characters from the book keep invading. Nothing disturbs the two readers until....
The way this is presented is unexpected and not at all truly scary, but actually just exciting and funny.

[Alissa Tsaparikos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book is a wild ride. Each page something more and more impossible happens as we follow a young reader of "just a story". With large and expressive illustrations this will be a winner with storytime. Kids can anticipate and call out what is happening and what might happen next. It's just the right amount of silly and fun without being too over the top. I highly recommend it for storytime, and it would work great for National Library Week.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! Very quick to read, entertaining, and is about all the silly and adventurous and creative directions a story can go. A boy reads a book at the library and narrowly avoids pirates, stampeding elephants, aliens, a froggy kiss, etc that are all part of the story. One of thsoe fun bibliophilic "books about books." Could easily lend itself to storytime.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy at the library dodges one dangerous situation after the other, without even realizing most of it. Or does he?

This is a fun celebration about how reading can suck you into the story and make you feel like you are right there in the middle of the action. Mack's illustrations are marvelous fun. Sure to be a hit with imaginative book lovers.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little boy is at the library reading a book when pirates almost kidnap him, a lion almost eats him, a whale almost squishes him, and the wildly imaginative list goes on. With fun illustrations to really engage the imagination, this book really shows the power of a story and where it can take you.

[Anna W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book about the power of story... one can almost be captured by pirates, or eaten by a whale, or almost KISSED by a lizard! But.. not. Because it's just a story!

A cute read for K-1st graders and good for read alouds. Ages 4-7.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

While reading a book, a little boy is nearly kidnapped by pirates, almost stepped on by a baby dragon, almost trampled by wild elephants ... and all manner of other dangers. But it’s okay ... it’s just a story.😀

[Kirsten Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beware when you choose a book from the library shelves! Starting in the title page, the storyline of this book really unfolds in the illustrations, showing how important it is to “read” the illustrations in a picture book.

[Dena Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book about a boy who had all kinds of adventures. Some of which were a little scary, luckily it was just a story. I think kids would like the story and you could make up additional stories about the characters as the child gets older.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

perfect blend of art and story -- fun for storytime

[Kelly]

Loved it! Great storyline and bold illustrations. The only thing I would change is the expression on the boy's face. I wish you could tell a bit more from him that he was really enjoying the book.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! Children will appreciate this imagination.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was lots of fun.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

We see a boy start reading a book and suspending his belief as everything in the book comes true to him (in the library!).

[McKinnon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Jennifer Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read-aloud choice! This will hit the spot with preschoolers!

[Ruth Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The adventures we can have from reading books?

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, simple story about a book's story coming to life. The text is simple but the real joy is in the illustrations. Great imaginative fun!

[J.D. Holman · Rating 4 out of 5]

My last review of 2020!

This is a fun, quick read that I look forward to sharing with my preschool/Kindergarten classes. It nicely illustrates how books can help us imagine wondrous adventures.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. It is simple, yet imaginative. It shows how a story can take you anywhere. Never fear, it is just a story so be adventurous.

[Elizabeth Seibel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful and funny story. I absolutely loved it.

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read aloud book. I like the way it circles back at the end, but I don't want to give away "the story". Imaginative.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

An imaginative story that demonstrates the magic of reading and all the adventures books can take us on, with touches of humor.