The Book That Did Not Want To Be Read
Silly, delightful and thought-provoking!
When was the last time you chose a book only because of the warning etched on its cover? My recent visit to the Barbican Centre led me to discover and eventually buy a book with an intriguing title — The Book That Did Not Want to be Read.
Recognised as the Swedish children’s book of 2020, this funny, silly and unpredictable book transports readers to a different world that denies standard rules and subverts the reality we know. Written by David Sundin, the well-known face in Swedish pop culture, this is his debut venture.
It’s a complete laugh-out-loud book that is enjoyable for children and adults alike as it sparks sensation and fun with every page turn. As the cover warns the readers that the book doesn't want to be read, it is only on the subsequent pages that we discover what the book is up to instead of being read and enjoyed.
The book opens with a kid pleading to grown-ups to be read to sleep and it is then that the fun begins!
The book, enraged by the fact that it is being read, employs a number of tactics to stop the readers. From turning the words into the shape of a steering wheel to replacing the A’s with O’s; from playing with the text size to gradually disappearing words — this book implements ALL that it has in order to prevent readers from reading and deciphering its meaning.
At one point, the book even develops a pair of wings and features deadly animals!
Navigating the whims of the book, finally, the grown-up and the child reach the end where it is all calm and composed.
A seemingly weird book with little meaning, the book’s actual message gets conveyed only on the last page where the grown-up says:
“Don’t forget that you are the best. You can be whatever you want to be . . .”
This is where this crazy, hilarious and interactive book conveys the truth of life. Through an excellent combination of illustrations and carefully placed words, the book promotes the idea of being unique and retaining that uniqueness under all circumstances.
This happy book filled with giggles, laughter and silliness not only makes children believe in the power of magic but also communicates a subtle truth that can change anyone’s life!
