I Want My Book Back

by Viviane Elbee, Nicole Miles (Illustrator)

Daryl loves the dinosaur book he checked out from the library; it takes him on roaring, stomping dinosaur adventures! But when Daryl has to return it, he'll do anything to get his favorite book back.

Daryl loves to play with his favorite library book about dinosaurs. His imagination takes him to prehistoric places, and he pretends to be a triceratops, microraptor, and even a T. rex! But Daryl does not want to share his book, so when he has to return it to the library, Daryl goes wild. Using all of his dinosaur skills, Daryl tries his best to get his book back! But when a clever librarian notices Daryl's passion, she encourages him to share his favorite book and make some new friends along the way. This playful, silly, funny, tale about reading, books, and sharing is sure to be a hit with any child.

Genres: Picture Books, Dinosaurs, Storytime, Books About Books, Childrens, Fiction, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2022

About the author

Viviane Elbee is a children's author creating fun books for fond memories. When not writing, Viviane has all kinds of adventures with her family, both at home in the Carolinas and abroad.

Her debut picture book, TEACH YOUR GIRAFFE TO SKI, came out in Nov. 2018. Her work has also appeared in Highlights High Five magazine.

Visit her online at www.VivianeElbee.com.

Reviews

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

David is a one trick pony; he only one book at the library checks it out again and again. What or who will convince him to checkout a new one?

[Blythe Russo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has the best illustration of crinkle fries I have ever seen. As an adult who also has an issue with keeping library books too long, I related very strongly to the little boy in this book who was captivated by the book on dinosaurs he had checked out. Elbee's text explores the singular passion little kids have for certain subjects while also teaching the reader about different types of dinosaurs in a fresh, new way. Miles's illustrations are hilarious and expressive, amping up the emotion.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Viviane Elbee returns (after her debut, TEACH YOUR GIRAFFE TO SKI) with her signature sense of humor in I WANT MY BOOK BACK, which follows a young boy named Daryl who LOVES his dinosaur book from the library. He checks it out over and over again, memorizing the amazing dinosaur facts inside. But when the book is reserved by another patron of the library, he must part ways with his beloved book. While he waits for it to be returned, Daryl uses his imagination (and his dinosaur costume) to conjure all the fun of a dinosaur adventure book. In doing so, he discovers the real magic of the book is what he brings to it, and the real joy of stories is sharing them with friends. In the end, he may even find another book that he loves just as much! Illustrations by Nicole Miles capture Daryl's youthful spirit, with hints of Steven Universe-style character designs. By rooting us in Daryl's emotional reality, Elbee and Miles make the reader root for this zany character (and have a lot fun along the way!). Perfect for passionate kids with big interests.

[Lori Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book-loving kids will absolutely relate to this sweet story! Main character, Daryl, can't bear to return his favorite dinosaur book to the library. He uses all of his dino moves to try to retrieve it. A clever resolution reunites Daryl with his beloved book and introduces him to a (possible) new favorite. I enjoyed the real dinosaur names and actions that were interspersed throughout the story. Your dino loving kid will want to act this one out and it would be a perfect pick for a group story time.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny book about a kid who keeps checking out the same book again and again and doesn't want to share it. I enjoyed watching the kid act like a dinosaur as he tried to steal the book back, and then the conclusion with him learning to share, and to maybe take an interest in a new (but adjacent) topic.

[Sarah BT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book about reading, sharing and storytime.

[Lisa Tolin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think fellow Goodreaders will deeply empathize with Daryl in I WANT MY BOOK BACK, who found a book he loves and does NOT WANT TO SHARE IT. Relatable. Too bad the library is not so understanding. Daryl will have to hatch the perfect plan to rescue his favorite dinosaur book from GRRRR other kids. This fun book will appeal to book lovers and dinosaur lovers alike for the book within a book that encourages them to stomp and roar as dinosaurs explore. It also shows how sharing can be ... fun? An important developmental book for kids in preschool and early elementary school who really struggle with this (and love dinos, and books)!

[Ellie Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect book for the child that must read THAT book over and over and over again. (You know the one.) Daryl checks out his favorite book from the library at every opportunity, but goes positively prehistoric when it's nowhere to be found. The illustrations are charming and hilarious. The look on Mom's face in particular when Daryl has pitched a fit in the library is priceless. A really enjoyable read aloud and a book every school and children's librarian will want on their shelves. (Maybe more than one copy if you have a patron like Daryl!)

[Charlotte Offsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darryl loves a library book called Dinosaur Adventure, he loves to stomp and roar and swing his neck like the dinosaurs in the book. One day when he tries to renew it, he finds that someone else has already put it on hold and has to give it back. Darryl is devastated until a caring librarian helps him find that books can be fun to share. A very relatable story of book love, sharing, and imagination.

[Valerie Bolling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a wonderful book about the love of reading (and of dinosaurs). This book proves that when children find a book they love, they don’t want to let it go. It also conveys the message that reading is about community, and books are meant to be shared. I’d love to ask a child after reading this, “What’s your most treasured book and why?”

[Elizabeth Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thia is such a fun book that will be great for read-alouds and classroom reading. Children will want this read over and over again. The text and illustrations work so well together. I highly recommend this well-written book!

[Megan Litwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daryl LOVES his book about dinosaurs. He loves it so much he has trouble letting it go back to the library. Parents, teachers, and librarians will all recognize a familiar scene, for sure! Roars and stomps and expressive art show us the full-range of Daryl’s emotions, as he eventually discovers new adventures (both in and out of books). Real dinosaur names sprinkled throughout add to the appeal. Dinosaur lovers will eat this fun book right up!

[Relena_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this to our kindergarteners before they started their first check-outs. A lovely message in a great read-aloud book.

[Brittany Thurman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Want My Book Back is a hilarious and witty tale of what happens when a beloved book is returned to the library! Uh oh, will that book ever be seen again? Daryl reminds me so much of the library kids I used to see, who loved a great story and stomped into story time ready to hear it. With brilliant use of dinosaur knowledge, Viviane Elbee has expertly incorporated those dino qualities into Daryl when nothing seems to go his way. That is, until he sees that his beloved book can be loved by many, not only himself. I love that this book incorporates many different types of dinosaurs and how they once behaved. I also love that this book takes on so many of the familiar aspects of libraries and librarianship that we all appreciate. From the adoring librarian to the book return bin, to wheeling a cart around, to the much loved story time. I Want My Book Back will be cherished by library and dinosaur appreciators alike!

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like many of us, Daryl has a favorite book, and his is all about dinosaurs. Daryl is devastated when someone else has put a hold on it at the library and he has to return it! I Want My Book Back is a sweet and humorous story that combines a love for reading and the joy of sharing a good book with your friends.

[Katelyn Aronson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darryl loves his favorite book fiercely. So fiercely that he can't stand it when Mommy insists on returning it to the library where other kids will be able to enjoy it. At his wits' end, Darryl finally hatches a plan to go back to the library to get his book back himself...but when he gets there, it's missing! It isn't until he spies his book being used (gasp!) for story time that he discovers the magic that can come from sharing something he's passionate about with others.
A kid-relatable book sprinkled with fun dino references that is perfect for littles going through that 'sharing is caring' learning curve!

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun! I loved how obsessed this kid was with his library book, and although I don't remember ever having this issue as a child, I understand the strong connection a child can have with a great book. His mother's expressions were priceless! As a library employee who often does story times, I loved how the librarian helped him feel involved and got all the other kids into it, while also introducing him to something new. I will be ordering a copy of this book for our library.

I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Luann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m one of the “librarians everywhere” part of the dedication. :)

What a great story of a boy’s love for a book. The illustrations are fun and have lots of great details. The author of Daryl’s favorite book is Dr. D. Nosor! I loved Daryl’s Mom’s expression as she dropped the book in the book return - one part worry over how Daryl will react and two parts relief to finally get to return the book.

[SamSamSam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so fun. It would be a great preschool storytime book, maybe for narrative skills or READ.

[NoNieqa Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Viviane Elbee's title trumpets ‘Kids are passionate about books they love!’ and this is an especially potent message in a time of national book banning. Nicole Miles’ illustrations expand and reinforce the message that brown and Black kids, historically excluded from this uplifting narrative, are just as passionate about books. This story is also a gentle reminder to adults to allow children to reread and read a book that captures their interest, regardless of any curricular purpose.

The book opens with the clever premise that a well-loved book must be returned to the library, and from there the rollicking adventure begins. Kids will delight in predicting how the protagonist will get their book back and laugh at his antics. With a sprinkling of scientific dino-facts, caregivers and educators have a springboard to discover new dinosaurs with their Littles. Viviane’s humorous and interactive prose invite kids to engage with the text, move, wiggle, stomp, and roar! The motif of sharing shines through, and the idea that sharing–and reveling–in literature is a community experience will leave every reader feeling empowered and connected.

[Carol Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darryl's passion is introduced immediately in the opening of this book. His problem is also introduced: his book was NOT for sharing.

Over and over again his mother renews his favorite book until one day, Darryl realizes that he can't put it on hold any more. When his mother tells him it's time to share it with others, Darryl's not very happy. No amount of cajoling from his mother helps and no amount of dinosaur tricks help him get his book back.

The next day when he returns to the library, he is shocked to discover that the librarian is holding HIS BOOK! Darryl is ready to let out an enormous roar when the fast-thinking librarian asks him to share the book with his friends. Darryl not only does that, but he demonstrates what dinosaurs do--he roars and stomps!

So, what happens next?

Everyone joins in!

The smart librarian offers him a different book and Darryl finds out that there is more than one book in the library he can love. The librarian earns her stripes and young readers learn that every book is meant to be enjoyed, shared, and celebrated.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding an amazing book that is everything you love is always a match made in heaven . . . unless it's a library book and you don't get to keep it. In this relatable story, Daryl is NOT happy when his favorite book can no longer be renewed and has to go back to the library. He plots all the ways to get it back from the crafty librarian who wants to SHARE it with other kids!

Luckily, that crafty librarian has a few tricks up her sleeve. Ones that may even satisfy Daryl.

The pictures were bright and colorful, and so fun. They fit the feel of the story perfectly. I laughed at Daryl's attempts to reconnect with his book, and I cheered when he found the perfect fix (with a little help from that crafty librarian). This story is an ode to books and libraries, and I highly recommend it! Especially for kids who are just catching the reading bug.

[Anitra Rowe Schulte · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I Want My Book Back" is a picture book about a boy named Daryl, who devises a plan to get his favorite dino book back from the library. Daryl renews the same book at the library, time and again. He simply loves imitating the dinosaurs in the story, and can't get enough of it. But one day, his favorite book cannot be renewed. Daryl ROARS and STOMPS and laments and schemes, taking on the personas of different dinosaurs in the process. When, as a T. Rex, he goes to swipe his story back, Daryl finds that it is the featured book at story time. I Want My Book Back is an entertaining book that reveals how fun it can be to share our favorite things and how our passions can evolve as we learn and grow.

[James Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining story about a boy who loves one particular book. He reads it over and over again. He loves it so much he doesn't want to share it. The day comes however, when he must give it up as it's due at the library. This is a story that young readers will really enjoy. The illustrations are inviting, colorful and adventurous, yet leave just enough room for a child's imagination to dream up their own adventures. There is a twist towards the end that I wasn't expecting. I liked that a lot. There are some nice lessons here for parents and teachers alike about sharing. Also, this book can help start a conversation about the local library, what it's there for and how to use it. Then of course, there are the dinosaurs!! Kids love dinosaurs and so do I. Well done.

[Ashley Belote · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a kid who loved to rent the same movies over and over and check the same books out from library time and time again, I totally related to this book personally. Viviane tells the story of Daryl, a dinosaur loving kid who continues to renew his favorite dinosaur book from the library...until he can't. It's someone else's turn! He makes several dino-themed attempts to get back to the library to snag his book back, until he ultimately learns that library books can bring joy to others as well as himself. The illustrations are full of emotional expressions, perfectly depicting a child in this type of situation. This is a great one for littles learning to share, while also teaching some super fun dino facts! 5 stars!

[Sarah Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever had to return a favorite library book? How about an awesome dinosaur library book that you didn’t want to share with anyone else? That’s what Daryl must do in this sweet and lively book about the joy of reading, the challenge of sharing, and the heroes that are our librarians. At first, Daryl employs his best dinosaur moves to try to get his book back. It’s great fun watching him transform into an ornithomimus and try to sneak past mom or into the library return bin. Dino-lovers will love the playful illustrations. But soon, with help from his local librarian at story hour, Daryl learns that sharing stories can be fun. He also learns that there are many great books out there to discover. Like this one!

[Dianne White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daryl loved his dinosaur book so much that, every time it was due back at the library, he renewed it, and all was well. Until, one day… * gasp * the book was on hold! Oh, my. Now what?

Most of us can relate. As far as Daryl was concerned, this was *his* book and he going NOT going to let it go without making some noise. He stomped, he roared. “He tried his best T Rex moves to retrieve it. 'I want MY BOOK back!'"

Will Daryl learn to share and find a new book to love? This fun Dino book hits all the right storytime notes. Kids will love reading (and acting out) I WANT MY BOOK BACK!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daryl checks out and renews the same dinosaur book over and over again until someone places a hold on it, and he and his mom have to return it. The next time he goes to the library, he looks all over for the book to find the librarian using it in a storytime that he helps out with. A nice, accurate story that explains library holds in the story. Also, dinosaurs! While I don't like trying to pronounce different dinosaur names, I really liked that this book mentioned more than T. Rex and gives different movements to go along with them. Definitely for a preschool dinosaur storytime with Laurie Berkner's "We Are the Dinosaurs."

[Jen Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main character, Daryl, had me hooked from the beginning and kept me smiling until the end as I followed his dinosaur-like antics as he tried to GET HIS BOOK BACK! This book could've been a didactic "you should share" story but instead the author has created a fun and fast-paced story about a kid who naturally (with a little help from the librarian, of course) learns that his single-minded passion (dinosaurs) actually makes him great at sharing - and that it's fun to share! This is a fantastic read-aloud - just make sure you have plenty of room as your listeners will no doubt want to join in with a few stomps and roars of their own!

[Laura Bower · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Want My Book Back is a sweet and humorous picture book about not wanting to share a very special object. Kids will find it relatable and hilarious asl Daryl acts like a dinosaur throughout the story as he tries to get his favorite book back (which has been returned at the library). An astute librarian discovers a way for Daryl to still feel close to his book, while opening Daryl up to potentially new favorite books. I Want my Book Back is a beautiful story celebrating the love of reading and the amazing librarians/libraries that help create connections between kids and books. A must-read story about the power of stories for storytime!