Hello, friends! Our book today is When You Open a Book, written by Caroline Derlatka and illustrated by Sara Ugolotti, an inspiring adventure through the worlds of wonder one can find between the pages of books.

Cracking open the cover of a book, the two unnamed child protagonists find themselves whisked away to worlds of fantasy and fact, and thrown into a journey unlike any other. Fairy dragons, giant hares, mouse pirate kings – there’s so much inside! There are characters to meet, far off places to see, and adventures to have. And when the pair is ready to return home, they simply close the book, knowing that they can always continue their travels the next day, and drift off to dreamland to imagine new stories of their own.

Charming. We’re always a sucker for books about reading, and this one captures the transportive nature of books and stories, especially when it comes to those made for kids. Derlatka’s rhyming text captures the wonder and joy of feeling engaged with a great story, and Ugolotti’s fantastic illustrations are filled with magic and delightful details (such as a glimpse of a showering alligator through the porthole of a pirate ship). I also appreciated the age gap and distinct visual difference between the child characters, suggesting a blended family. The length is perfect for a storytime, and JJ and I both loved it. Overall, definitely one to check out, especially for young book lovers, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)