I had some mixed feelings about this book. I was taught to treat any book with care, not break the spine, not to write in it, and so on. Here, in the opening pages you are told to write your name in the book, read it until the pages fall out and to leave your fingerprints in it! What a different approach from my upbringing! Still, I did enjoy The Book No One Ever Read, by Cornelia Funke. Seems books want to be read! Watch for familiar authors and titles. :-)

This book is about acceptance, something seemingly lacking these days. Jacob likes dresses, and wants to wear one to school. He is teased, but the teacher tells the students that there was a time when girls could not wear pants (been there, done that, so glad it changed), so why couldn't a boy wear a dress? Thanks to Constant Reader for suggesting Jacob's New Dress, by Sarah and Ian Hoffman, illustrated by Chris Case.

Reading Hermit With Dog