I love it when a #Booky100Keeper crops up that elicits such a sharp and happy memory of our book blogging journey.

This one arrived without fanfare, without prewarning (we literally saw no hype, no build up, not even a polite "Do you want to review this book?" but nevertheless "The Book With No Pictures" by B.J. Novak arrived and was instantly met with "no way, not reading it, don't like it!"

I don't know if other booky folk / book bloggers ever go through this with their young bosses. When they dig their heels in about something, it sometimes takes a lot of cajoling before they'll give something a try - but when they do they fall instantly in love with it...

...as was the case here. Of course the main reason comedian and writer B.J. Novak's 'celebrity' book outstrips just about everything else you'll read by a sleb in kidlit is that he fully understands the audience he's writing for. He's a smart guy, and he knows kids are brilliantly smart too - so figured out a way to capitalise on the idea that a book without pictures that makes your adults look like complete nincompoops as they read it aloud to you would be a stroke of absolute genius, and wildly popular. And it is.

Let's see why shall we?


Nothing problematic so far....oh, wait a minute, what?


Oh no, this doesn't look good!


GAHHHH! So of course by the end of the book you (the adult reader) feel like you've been 'had' and your children feel like they've managed to deliciously get one over on you as you robotically follow the instructions laid out in front of you.

It makes for a superb, engaging and brilliant performance piece if you enter into the swing of things properly - and it's guaranteed to put a big old smile on your kids' face for sure. I'm slightly sad that we've never seen any follow-ups or anything else from B.J (I haven't googled to see if he ever did another). But this is a keeper and one we still wheel out if I'm getting too ahead of myself and C wants to bring me down a peg or two!

Original Review Link:

The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak (Puffin Books)

Muhahahah! This book is PERFECT for catching your children out. To give you an idea of what I'm getting at, this is how things 'went down' at ReadItDaddy Towers when this book arrived.

Me: "Charlotte, we've got a GREAT new book to review! It's called 'The Book with No Pictures'"
Charlotte: "I don't like books with no pictures!"
Me: "Trust me, you're going to LOVE this one though! It's hilarious!"
Charlotte: "No I won't! Don't like! Wah wah wah (or words to that effect)"

Some cajoling and convincing later, we snuggled down with B.J. Novak's book which has caused quite a calamity over t'pond, and rightly so - it's a work of genius.

It's worth saying at the outset that this book is probably a real win for parents who love reading aloud (and also a real win for kids who do too!) - Like a piece of performance art, "The Book with No Pictures" lets big show-offs (like me) really go to town with gusto when reading through.

It starts off subtly. No pictures (as promised), fairly plain text, like an introductory passage tucked into the end papers of a weightier tome. As I read, Charlotte wore the expression of someone who would rather be cleaning her teeth with a hedgehog than listening to me read - but then the first snigger arrived. On its heels the first giggle, then the first guffaw, and after that - completely uncontrollable laughter which carried on right through till the end of the book when Charlotte shouted "AGAIN! AGAIN!" - as your children probably will too.

"The Book With No Pictures" shows just how brilliant B.J. Novak's inner knowledge of what makes people (particularly children) laugh, without resorting to fart, bum and poo gags. It comes with a bit of a warning though, the 'reader' must be self-deprecating enough to take the book's focus on making them look a bit daft in good stead (of course, I love anything that forces people to laugh at themselves as well as everyone else, so does Charlotte!)

It's a great idea, one that could easily become a series, one that children may initially be sceptical about but will ultimately fall about laughing over. Most of all though, it's a gorgeously potted piece of performance art wrapped in book covers. The only negative I'd have on it is that it might not stand up for re-reading as once the gag is given away, kids will know what to expect (which is all the more reason for B.J to get cracking on "The Next Book With No Pictures" as soon as possible!)

Charlotte's best bit: Finding out that my head is made of blueberry pizza! Charming!

Daddy's Favourite bit: It's a real hoot to 'perform' this book, I just absolutely loved that initial grumpiness that Charlotte had when she heard that the book wouldn't have any pictures - turning to giggles, snorts and outright guffaws of laughter once the book shifts into gear! What an awesome idea!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Puffin Books)