Nothing Happens In This Book is a fun predictive picturebook that has readers hunt for clues, trying to guess what will happen next. Each page has the main character finding missing objects, all necessary props for the final surprise, which invites the reader to become fully immersed in the mysterious progression of the plot. This is a cute book for the young (preschool age) reader who will likely enjoy seeing this story through to the surprise ending... BUT is it a brilliant, insta-favorite? Doubtful. Therein lies the problem. It has the feel of being quickly thrown together with very little substance, definitely not something my Little would ask for or read repeatedly.



*** I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***

I'm a fan of picture books that ask the reader to engage in new ways. Even more than asking us to interact with the page, this one wants us to imagine.

Fun illustrations! Not many words, but the story is a clever one through deciphering what is going on in the illustrations.

Nothing Happens in This Book seems to play off a popular concept in children's lit especially over the past few years, of having narrators talk directly to the reader, and break the fourth wall/other boundaries in children's books. Unfortunately, the book falls very flat. A small creature talks about how nothing is happening in a book, then slowly discovers different items, which eventually turn out to be missing accessories for a circus. The narrator triumphantly exclaims "everything happens in this book!" but the story along the way feels false and uninteresting, so there's no pay off at this moment.

The narrator warns the reader that nothing happens in this book and you'd be better off returning it to the shelf, but as you continue to flip through the pages, you find clues about what exactly is happening and witness the narrator joining in something after all.

The idea behind the book is clever, and kids will enjoy seeing the different things the narrator finds and how they come together to form something in the end. Whimsical illustrations will appeal to many readers.

I read a copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

3 stars.

Nothing Happens In This Book is a picturebook written by Judy Ann Sadler and illustrated by Vigg. It is currently scheduled for release on May 1 2018. The narrator of this picturebook warns us:Reader, don't waste your time with this book. “You might as well stick it back on the shelf,”“Or toss it under your bed. You don't need to read it because it looks like nothing happens in this book.” But, wait, he's spotted something. There's a trumpet without a trumpeter. And there's a tiny car without a driver. And a baton without a twirler. Maybe if you keep turning the pages, you'll find out who is missing these items. Maybe they are all together, getting ready to do something awesome. Maybe something amazing does happen in this book after all! The text and visual narrative work hand in hand in this playful, page-turning meta picture book, encouraging children to join in on the quest to find the seemingly missing story.

Nothing Happens In This Book is a fun interactive picturebook that leads readers on a hunt to see what might happen. There are clues on each page, and as out character discovers missing objects and moves forwards young readers are encouraged to imagine what might be coming. I thought the text and pictures were playfully paired, with a subtle humor and a hunt that encourages listener and reader participation. While I had a digital copy, the paper edition includes a gatefold spread to reveal the busy parade that completes the story and solves the mystery of just who lost all the wacky items, and what their plan was. This book would make a wonderful read a loud, one on one or in a library or classroom setting. It can also be used to start a discussion on story writing, telling, or building for an older audience.

The mouse in this book tries to convince you that nothing happens in this book. But as the book progresses, he finds several items but doesn’t know where they belong. Kids will have fun trying to figure out what the items are and where they belong. The pictures are cute and bright.

#netgalley

This starts out pretty boring. There are dark pages with nothing but a few speech bubbles warning us that this book has nothing in it.

Then tantalizing Clues appear:

a striped ball,

a shiny shoe,

a red nose.

The clues continue to add up, building suspense.

Finally our narrator begins to realize that something just might be about to happen. He continues collecting these bits and pieces that he finds. In the end not only does the book end up with a lot in it, he ends up being a hero and becoming part of the final event!

This book will be a lot of fun to read to children who will enjoy predicting what all of these different clues mean. In the end they are certain to agree that everything happens in this book!

I can imagine this book becoming a family and classroom favourite. The illustrations are goofily delightful and loaded with fun.

This book has a retro look to it, which makes it feel timeless. It dares the reader to keep going, and feels interactive in the way it is written. The writing is simple, and could be enjoyed by people of all ages. There is a reward at the end in the exciting illustrations.

Young children will enjoy reading this book as there is suspense and buildup that they can follow throughout the book and put together the pieces at the end of the story! Nothing Happens in this Book is kind of an interactive story that children can participate in. Overall it is a cute and whimsical book that preschool age children would have fun with!

Ok execution on the new trend of the meta picture book. As something started to happen, the illustrations become more interesting and colorful.

The narrator, a cartoonish man with a prominently pointed nose, introduces the story by advising the reader to not read the book as nothing happens in it. However, as the reader soon learns, quite a bit happens in the story as random objects and unusual characters begin to appear throughout the remainder of the story until, by the end, the pages are crowded with activity. Overall, this is a cute idea and the entertaining illustrations will probably hold the attention of many readers. I think that, as a read aloud, the right reader could certainly make this an engaging story for a young audience. Not a first choice purchase, but one to consider.

This delightful book begins with the narrator urging the reader to close the book because "nothing happens in this book," only to then discover different odd objects throughout the pages. As he gathers each object, he realizes that there is an entire circus parade WANTING to begin, if it weren't for each performer's missing object. I think this simple, fun story would best appeal to toddlers and preschoolers.

Why would anyone want to read a boring book where nothing happens? The narrator surmises that nothing is going on as he travels from one blank page to another, until...he finds a ball. He also discovers an oversize shoe, followed by a red nose, a trumpet, and a tiny car. Maybe there is something to this book after all.

This fun, interactive story encourages the reader to predict who owns these items and where all do they belong. Pair the book with Do Not Open This Book by Michaela Muntean or Help! We Need a Title for More by Herve Tullet for more imaginative fun!

Nothing Happens in This Book begins with a human mouse looking character who proclaims that we might as well put this book back on our shelf, because nothing is going to happen in it. I was intrigued from there, and I know my students would be too. They'd have a great time imagining what may happen next and we tromp through the pages with our main character, who keeps stumbling across different objects and insisting they have no purpose and will not be doing anything. It's highly entertaining and will be a great book to work on context clues, predicting, and details.

A cute book in which nothing happens. The illustrations at the end could make this book really interactive. I appreciate how different this books premise is. I think it could be a fun book to read with a group as long as you take time to really looking at the images and talk about the book, since there is not much story to it.

Thank you to netgalley for giving me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I received an eARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.



This is one of the most interesting picture books I've ever read. The illustrations have a bit of a vintage vibe and the narrator from the beginning speculates that the book is about .... nothing. The pages turn from full black to light shining and revealing an odd assortment of items. Suddenly, the pages are full of inanimate objects and our narrator is now convinced that something exciting must happen in the book. The book ends with pages full of interesting things to see as the parade marches across the final pages.

This is a great book for young children for a variety of reasons. First, there are not a lot of words so it will definitely hold their attention. It's also great for introducing objects and the function they perform. I think this would be a fun book to read and then have students plan a parade on their own. For older students, it's a great example of how to present a problem and then build suspense in writing.

This book is pretty cute. The illustrations are nice, and it was pretty funny. The continuation of the "Nothing happens in this book" reminds me a little of the "There's A Monster At The End Of This Book".

Young kids will definitely like this one, its a great children's book.

It was quite a nice premise for a book, but didn't lead anywhere exciting.

Though nothing takes place at the beginning, some weird thing turn up and then together a parade is formed. Pictures are bright. Execution could have been better.