Review: Inside a Book by Giuseppe Bordi and Domenico Lacava

Today's review is a fun book...or so it promises to be. This one explores what a book is for young readers, as in what goes into a book to make it a book. I'm thinking simple and just a basic understanding on books. Plus, if I understood right, this one includes a bit of 'do-it-yourself'. It is available in Italian as well (the original title is in Italian). And isn't the only book available from this author duo.

See how that hand on the cover peels back the first page? Well, let's take a peek, too!

INSIDE A BOOK

by Giuseppe Bordi

Domenico Lacava

Lupo Blu Editions

Picture Book

49 pages

ages 4 to 8

WHAT’S INSIDE A BOOK? OPEN IT AND YOU WILL FIND OUT. LET SMILLO THE WHITE RABBIT GUIDE YOU THROUGH CHARACTERS, ADVENTURES AND TWISTS OF FORTUNE. ENTER THE STORY AND BECOME A HERO. “INSIDE A BOOK” HELPS CHILDREN LEARN THE ELEMENTS OF A STORY AND MAKE THEM THEIR OWN.

GOODREADS   /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

This is a well done, humorous read, which teaches kids the basics of storytelling, while getting them involved in the process.

A blank page doesn't mean that nothing is there. It just can't been seen, yet. The 'reader', only seen by the arm, discovers the main character, a rabbit, and through conversation and active assistance, helps the rabbit develop its adventurous tale. And there is quite a bit of adventure involved.

This is cute and so much fun. I did wonder how it'd work, at first, as the unseen-reader speaks with the rabbit, but it is well done and puts a smile on the face right away. The rabbit is polite enough but needs help in developing its tale. Luckily, it knows where it's going...pretty much. It just needs the reader's help, since the book isn't finished. There are word bubbles, signs with information poking in the landscape, and the rabbit explains things quite well. I was very glad to see that this isn't a book with tons of text, even though it does bring across the basics of storytelling—characters, world, plot, protagonists (evil), antagonists (heroes), etc. 

I see this one great for anyone, who is trying to teach how to write a story, especially very basic stories. While young readers first watch the 'reader' interact and learn from the rabbit, the book switches gears at the end and allows the true reader to get involved. There are pages to color with directions, and all of this encourages young readers to start considering how to create their own tales. 

And here he is..

Giuseppe Bordi was born in June 1969. He grows up in a house with few books and a lot of dreams. He is five years old when he decides that when he grows up he will be a writer. His first children’s book is “Puzzolo and the Illegal Landfill”, a fairy tale that does not meet the editors’ favour. He  then decides to publish it by himself and goes to promote it personally in Rome's primary schools. Meeting the kids gives a new perspective to his dream. From 2010 to 2016 Puzzolo’s success led him to publish with Rizzoli Education, Fabbri Editore and as many as eighteen narrations and related stage versions. In the meantime he graduates in Economics at Rome’s University La Sapienza with a dissertation on “Financial and economical aspects of a movie production” and works as an advisor on creative writing in schools.

In 2016 he wrote the primary school manual “Piccoli Eroi” (Little Heroes). After selling more than 100.000 copies in schools he decided to make his appearance in the world of bookstores publishing novels for big Italian editors.

In 2019, together with his friend the illustrator Domenico Lacava, he created the independent editorial label Lupo Blu Editore.