Just a Story

K-Gr 2–A young white boy reads a book in a library, and the story comes alive; the library quickly is taken over by stampeding elephants, diaper-wearing dragons, butterflies, and even a UFO. The boy remains oblivious of the shenanigans occurring around him. Only the threat of a kiss, every young boy’s worst nightmare, snaps him out of his reverie. Of course, it was “just a story,” the chaos in the library symbolic of the vivid images a book can conjure in the imagination. Mack’s illustrations are bright and colorful. He is able to pack the page with personality and movement without overwhelming the flow of the book. The boy reads independently, which may inspire younger readers to do the same. On the back flap is an illustration of a young Black girl, who also appears at the end of the story to carry on the conceit.