The Book with No Pictures

by B. J. Novak

Overview

A #1 New York Times bestseller, this innovative and wildly funny read-aloud by award-winning humorist/actor B.J. Novak will turn any reader into a comedian.
You might think a book with no pictures seems boring and serious. Except . . . here’s how books work. Everything written on the page has to be said by the person reading it aloud. Even if the words say . . .
 
BLORK. Or BLUURF.
 
Even if the words are a preposterous song about eating ants for breakfast, or just a list of astonishingly goofy sounds like BLAGGITY BLAGGITY and GLIBBITY GLOBBITY.
 
Cleverly irreverent and irresistibly silly, The Book with No Pictures is one that kids will beg to hear again and again. (And parents will be happy to oblige.)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780803741713
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	09/30/2014
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	2,170
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	490L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

B.J. Novak is well known for his work on NBC’s Emmy Award-winning comedy series The Office as an actor, writer, director, and executive producer. He is also acclaimed for his standup comedy, his performances in motion pictures, and his New York Times bestselling book of short stories, One More Thing. A graduate of Harvard University with a degree in English and Spanish literature, B.J. lives in Los Angeles, California.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Conceptually radical . . . making the refreshing and contrarian case that words alone have sensory and imaginative vibrancy to spare."—Mark Levine, The New York Times Book Review

• "“This book may not have pictures, but it's sure to inspire lots of conversations—and laughs . . . A riotously fresh take on breaking the fourth wall.”"— Kirkus, starred review

"This book is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, and it’s perfect for one-on-one sharing with a parent or caregiver. Expect requests for repeated readings."—School Library Journal

"Actor Novak’s expert sense of comic timing is on full display in his first picture book . . . sure to deliver big laughs."— Publishers Weekly

"Listeners will be tickled by hearing adults say ridiculous things . . . The comic pacing and foolproof theatrics ensure a wild and silly trip through the pages for everyone."— The Horn Book

"This picture book with no pictures knows a thing or two about both books and kid-friendly comedy . . . Once children get the joke, they'll want to play it on as many of their grownups as possible."— The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Unlike any of the children's books you read growing up."— Bustle.com

"Will have little ones laughing and finding a new appreciation for words."— Entertainment Weekly

"A perfectly-pitched tool for parental humiliation and childish glee."— The Boston Globe 

Editorial Reviews

A Barnes & Noble Best Book of 2014

This supremely silly, entirely endearing book is one of the year’s most delightful surprises. B.J. Novak understands that if there’s one thing kids like even better than pictures, it’s nonsense words. Even better? Hearing nonsense words read aloud by your parents. We’ve yet to make it through this one without the kids collapsing into fits of giggles (usually we don’t even make it past “a hippo named Boo Boo Butt”). See all of the Best Kids’ Books of 2014.

…raucous and illuminating…a formalist free-for-all…

The New York Times Book Review - Mark Levine

06/30/2014
Actor Novak’s expert sense of comic timing is on full display in his first picture book, which, true to its title, only contains words on a white background. Different font types, sizes, and colors signal important changes in tone and voice to whomever is reading the story aloud (and the book’s jokes rely on a readaloud setting). “It might seem like no fun to have someone read you a book with no pictures,” Novak writes early in the book, his words set in a black serif font that all but demands a serious, James Earl Jones–style voice-over. Then the kicker: “Here is how books work. Everything the words say, the person reading the book has to say. No matter what.” Cue sound effects (“BLUURF”) and nonsense statements (“I am a monkey who taught myself to read”) designed to make a laughingstock of the adult reader while keeping children howling, even as the reader’s “voice” lodges its protests (“Wait a second—is this whole book a trick?”). A strong first showing for Novak that’s sure to deliver big laughs. Ages 4–8. Agent: Richard Abate, 3 Arts Entertainment. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

"Conceptually radical . . . making the refreshing and contrarian case that words alone have sensory and imaginative vibrancy to spare."—Mark Levine, The New York Times Book Review

* "“This book may not have pictures, but it's sure to inspire lots of conversations—and laughs . . . A riotously fresh take on breaking the fourth wall.”"— Kirkus, starred review

"This book is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, and it’s perfect for one-on-one sharing with a parent or caregiver. Expect requests for repeated readings."—School Library Journal

"Actor Novak’s expert sense of comic timing is on full display in his first picture book . . . sure to deliver big laughs."— Publishers Weekly

"Listeners will be tickled by hearing adults say ridiculous things . . . The comic pacing and foolproof theatrics ensure a wild and silly trip through the pages for everyone."— The Horn Book

"This picture book with no pictures knows a thing or two about both books and kid-friendly comedy . . . Once children get the joke, they'll want to play it on as many of their grownups as possible."— The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Unlike any of the children's books you read growing up."— Bustle.com

"Will have little ones laughing and finding a new appreciation for words."— Entertainment Weekly

"A perfectly-pitched tool for parental humiliation and childish glee."— The Boston Globe 

From the Publisher

09/01/2014
K-Gr 2—The actor (and writer, producer, and director) has penned his first picture book, but can it be called a picture book when there are no pictures? Entering the field of unique interactive books begging to be opened, including Hervé Tullet's Press Here (Chronicle, 2011) and Adam Lehrhaupt's Warning: Do Not Open This Book! (S. & S., 2013), this title will instantly intrigue children. Upon opening the book, readers are drawn in ("Here is how books work: everything the words say, the person reading the book has to say. No matter what."). What follows is an uproariously raucous time, with readers being forced to utter nonsense words ("blork," "bluurf") and phrases that will have young listeners in stitches ("And my head is made of blueberry pizza."). Admittedly, there are no illustrations, but Novak has employed the use of various sizes of black typeface with expansive white space and color to highlight some of the text. This book is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, and it's perfect for one-on-one sharing with a parent or caregiver. Expect requests for repeated readings.—Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA

School Library Journal

★ 2014-07-16
This book may not have pictures, but it's sure to inspire lots of conversations—and laughs. Television writer, actor and comedian Novak delivers a rare find, indeed: a very good celebrity picture book. It doesn't even seem fair to call it such, since it has nothing to do with his Emmy Award-winning writing for The Office or the fame his broader career has afforded him. The jacket flap even eschews a glossy photo, instead saying "B.J. has brown hair and blue eyes," in order to keep with the book's central conceit. What this book does have is text, and it's presented through artful typography that visually conveys its changing tone to guide oral readings. Furthermore, the text implies (or rather, demands) a shared reading transaction, in which an adult is compelled to read the text aloud, no matter how "COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS" it is. Employing direct address, it pleads with the implied child listener to allow him or her to stop reading. Nonsense words, silly words to be sung and even a smattering of potty talk for good measure all coalesce in riotous read-aloud fare. Although the closing pages beg the implied child reader to "please please please please / please / choose a book with pictures" for subsequent reading, it's likely that this request will be ignored. A riotously fresh take on breaking the fourth wall. (Picture book. 3-8)

Kirkus Reviews