Wild About Books

Wild About Books

book

2004, Children's Books, Literature & Fiction

WISE
91%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

A librarian's bookmobile crashes into a zoo and suddenly every animal is obsessed with reading—it's exactly as charming as it sounds.

Amazon4.8
Common Sense Media

Where to Read

Amazon
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble
Libby
Libby

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Screenwise Verdict

This is one of those picture books that does everything right. The premise is silly and fun, the rhyming actually works (no small feat), and Marc Brown's illustrations are worth the price alone. It's been around since 2004 but hasn't aged a day—books about loving books are evergreen.

The message is straightforward: reading is awesome, libraries are awesome, and there's a book out there for everyone. It doesn't lecture; it shows animals going from skeptical to completely obsessed, which is way more persuasive. The Harry Potter reference dates it slightly but also makes it feel lived-in and real.

At 4.8 stars on Amazon with over half a million copies sold, this is a proven winner. It's the kind of book librarians hand out at storytimes, teachers read on the first day of school, and parents don't mind reading for the 47th time because the rhythm is actually pleasant. A solid, enriching choice that celebrates literacy without being boring about it.

Age Fit

Best for ages 3-8 as a read-aloud, particularly preschool through 2nd grade. The rhyming makes it engaging for younger listeners, while early readers can appreciate the wordplay. Older elementary kids will have moved on to chapter books, though it's still a solid choice for library storytimes.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
92

Celebrates libraries, reading, and learning with infectious enthusiasm. Models a librarian who's persistent, inclusive, and finds the perfect book for every creature. The rhyming text is joyful without being saccharine, and the premise—animals discovering books—is inherently gentle and positive. No conflict beyond initial reluctance that's quickly overcome.

Imaginative
88

The core concept—a bookmobile accidentally drives into a zoo and gets animals hooked on reading—is delightfully absurd. Marc Brown's illustrations are lush and fanciful, showing giraffes with tall books, otters reading Harry Potter underwater, and animals abandoning their habitats for literature. The rhyming verse invites read-aloud creativity and the book celebrates imagination through the act of reading itself.

Safe
98

About as safe as children's books get. Zero concerning content—no violence, scary moments, or mature themes. The only 'conflict' is animals initially being skeptical about books before becoming enthusiastic readers. Common Sense Media rates it 4+ with no warnings. Perfect for unexpected reading sessions.

Enriching
90

Winner of the E.B. White Read Aloud Award for good reason. Explicitly promotes literacy and library culture in an era where that matters more than ever. The book models finding joy in reading, shows that there's a perfect book for everyone, and introduces book culture (Harry Potter reference, the concept of waterproof books, etc.). The rhyming structure builds phonemic awareness. It's both entertaining and genuinely educational about the value of books.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • The rhyming text is actually good—bouncy, clever, and fun to read aloud without making adults want to hide the book
  • Celebrates libraries and reading without being preachy; the animals' enthusiasm is genuinely infectious
  • Marc Brown's (yes, the Arthur guy) illustrations are gorgeous and packed with delightful details to discover on re-reads
  • The concept that there's a perfect book for everyone (tall books for giraffes, waterproof ones for otters) is a lovely message about personalized reading
  • Over 500K copies sold and an E.B. White Award winner—this is a modern classic that actually holds up
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What to Watch For

  • The Lexile level (730L) is higher than the age range suggests—it's meant to be read TO kids, not by early readers
  • Some kids might want to immediately go to the library after reading this, so be prepared for that request
  • If your kid already resists reading, this might not magically convert them, but it's worth a shot

Conversation Starters

  • "If you were an animal at the zoo, what kind of books would you want to read?"
  • "The otter reads Harry Potter underwater—what's the silliest place you've ever read a book?"
  • "Why do you think the animals didn't want to read at first but then changed their minds?"
  • "Should we go to the library this week and find some new books like Molly McGrew did?"

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