This is a wordless graphic novel aimed at the youngest readers. In its pages, two young children are unkind to animals and then are cursed by an old man who turns them into monkeys. As monkeys, they are chased by predators and trapped by a circus!

So, this book was interesting. I was expecting a typical graphic novel like other Toon Books, complete with dialogue bubbles and panels. When I saw it was a wordless picture book, it didn't quite do it for me the first time around. The second time, however, I appreciated it more -- especially after reading the backmatter about kamishibai, a Japanese form of storytelling that inspired this book's form. This book would be good to encourage children to think creatively and come up with their own story, dialogue, voices, etc.

The story ends with the children appearing to have learned their lesson but still stuck in monkey form. I'm not sure I love that. While there are indeed some things that cannot be undone, most children make mistakes that they can easily recover from and their stories should reflect that, in my opinion. ( )

To see this week's wordless picture books, please visit - https://readrantrockandroll.com/2017/08/02/wednesdays-wordless-picture-books-6/

When we first started reading this book we were shocked. It begins with two children abusing some wildlife and it’s uncertain where the story is going to go. As they chase a bird far away, they are met by an angry man who wants to teach them a lesson they will never forget. The message is powerful and children will understand that there are consequences to their actions. This is a wordless picture book that can have many endings and children will have to think about what the actual conclusion means.

What I loved most about the book was the history in the back. Readers learn about e-toki which means “picture-explaining” and kamishibai which means “paper theater.” Children learn about the importance of these picture stories from Japan and why they were started in the first place. This is a powerful picture book with detailed, yet simple illustrations that kids will certainly enjoy.

4**** ( )

This book was definitely not what I was expecting. It was in the juvie graphic novel section, and I think I would have gone into it a lot differently if I'd seen it in the adult fiction or even nonfiction section.

"E-toki" means "Picture explaining," which is something the reader doesn't get until the end. This book is based on this Japanese tradition, so the story is only pictures, no words. It's up to the reader to tell the story that's going on. So each person might have a different take on the story, which is about two pretty rotten children who are cruel to birds and transformed into monkeys that are then captured and put in a circus/carnival freakshow-type act. I must admit, there were a few pages I didn't quite understand, so the story I told myself was incomplete and confused. But there was a definite moral there.

Moreover, the pictures are gorgeous. They're full of bold colors and details without being too overbearing explaining the story. They depict just enough to get you thinking. This is frustrating when reading the first time. But once you realize the point of the book, a second read allows the illustration style to make perfect sense. ( )

Nicely done - lots to talk about ( )

*Disclaimer: I attended Center for Cartoon Studies and know James Sturm*

One red bird, two cruel children, and a powerful wizard come together to tell a story unlike any other. Because in this book, you tell the story. You write the words. You...decide what the pictures mean and what's happening in them. Told in the tradition of Kamishiabi, Japanese paper theater, James Sturm has crafted a series of illustrations that may tell the most heartbreaking story ever.

How do you write a review for a story that changes, depending upon who tells the story? The answer is...its difficult. Because you can't write about the story, since what you read might not be what the next person reads. And it's difficult to write about the pictures, because, again you're reading the story and the next person might read something different!

So here's what I've come up with: In this book you get to decide the story. YOU. The reader. Or maybe the child next to you. Or the child next to them. Or you can all take turns. Whatever the case may be, the basis for the story is that two cruel kids are mean to animals and then apparently get turned into animals themselves. But what happens in between? What happens at the end? That's up to you. And the book allows you to write the story in, if you choose to, as the left handed pages are blank with white space. Maybe you can erase it after you tell it one way and write down a different way. Or maybe you can just insert pages so that you can see the different ways that you've told the story and keep your favorites. Or maybe you just let the blank pages speak for themselves. That's up to you though.

This is the type of book that would be great to engage reluctant readers, by allowing them to submit what they think happens. Let them be the author for the day, with a master illustrator by their side, already having provided the images. They can inspire and engage each other and the group can talk about the different things they see in this book or don't see. That's what this story is about. You getting to make the choices. What do the characters learn from their (mis)adventures? Do they find forgiveness? Do they continue on their path to cruelty? Or maybe something else all together.

The one quibble I have with this book, is that in Kamishibai, you can move the pages into different orders. Which really adds a different element to the story being different each time. While that may be somewhat more difficult to produce in book form, it would have been an interesting challenge that I'm sure could have led to a special edition of the book being published.

While the book is geared towards younger readers, I would recommend it for all ages, for the critical thinking skills that are needed to interpret the images and to create a cohesive and compelling story.

Review copy provided by Toon Books ( )