Roger Is Reading a Book

"Quiet. Roger is reading." A disturbing "BOING BOING" emanates from the other side of his cozy apartment's wall as next-door-neighbor-girl Emily bounces her ball. Roger retaliates, banging on the wall; noise amps up while neighborliness dissipates. Ultimately Roger gives Emily her own book. Showcased on white or off-white backgrounds, the illustrations feature bursts of patchy color and abstract linework that artistically depict sound.

The rainy-night endpapers of this Belgian import draw readers into the cozy lamplight of Roger’s apartment. “Shhhh! Quiet. Roger is reading. Roger is reading a book.” The page turn reveals that peacefulness can be fleeting. A disturbing “BOING BOING” emanates from the other side of the wall, cleverly defined by the book’s gutter, as next-door-neighbor-girl Emily bounces her ball. Roger retaliates by banging on the wall, and noise amps up while neighborliness dissipates. Showcased on white or off-white backgrounds, the illustrations feature small bursts of patchy color and abstract linework that artistically depict sound. When Emily bangs her drum, thin colored lines show a slow-motion time lapse of Roger startling -- shoe, hat, book, and glasses flying. In the end Roger gives Emily her own book to read. His peace offering brings quiet until his ignored dog’s hints to go out finally erupt into a cacophony of “WOOF WOOF”s sending everyone into the rain for a walk. Visually stimulating, this well-designed package of noises, books, and human nature is like an offbeat piece of chamber music. Any resemblance to The Horn Book’s editor in chief is entirely coincidental (or not). julie roach