Warning: Do Not Open This Book!

by Adam Lehrhaupt, Matthew Forsythe (Illustrator)

CAUTION! This book contains monkeys, toucans, and a whole lot of silliness. You really shouldn't be opening this book.

I'm serious.

Just put it back on the shelf.

Right...now.

You're still reading this?

Well, don't say I didn't warn you...

It looks like a book, it feels like a book, and it even smells like a book. But watch out...madness and mayhem lie within! Debut author Adam Lehrhaupt urges you NOT to take a walk on the wild side in this humorous, interactive romp with inventive and engaging illustrations from Eisner Award-winning comic artist and rising star children's book illustrator Matthew Forsythe.

This quirky, subversive creation begs to be enjoyed again and again and again.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Humor, Storytime, Childrens, Fiction, Metafiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published August 27, 2013

About the author

Adam Lehrhaupt is the award-winning author of Warning: Do Not Open This Book!, Please: Open This Book!, Chicken in Space (A six book series: Book 2 Chicken in School lands June 20, 2017), I Will Not Eat You and the upcoming I Don't Draw, I Color (March 21, 2016), Wordplay (July 2017), Idea Jar (Fall 2017), and This is a Good Story (Spring, 2018). He has traveled to six continents, performed on Broadway, and lived on a communal farm. He firmly believes that opening a book is a good thing, even if there are monkeys in it. Adam currently lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA, with his wife, two sons, and two bizarre dogs. Follow Adam on twitter and Instagram @lehrhaupt for the occasional brilliant thought or picture, and at adamlehrhaupt.com.

Reviews

[Adam]

Since this is my book, I don't feel right giving it a rating. Also, I don't think there are enough stars. Instead of a traditional review I'm going to use this space to try to tell you a bit more about my book.

Warning: Do Not Open This Book starts off with a bit of this:

And it is followed with a quick one of these:

But, then there is one of these...

And, one of those, leads to all of this:

It becomes quite a bit of a mess there for a while. But, not to fear, because there is a plan. A good plan:

So, that's what the book is about. Of course, Matt's illustrations are awesome and these silly pics don't do them justice. But, you get the idea of what the book is about, right?

[KC]

Beware. You really shouldn't open this book!!!

[The Library Lady]

I were a hipster librarian or parent who hadn't read a zillion picture books I would give this a higher rating. But though the art is very striking, this concept has been done a zillion times before--and by people with far zanier imaginations.

[pati]

They warned me and I did not listen! When will I learn!!???

[Drew Canole]

Similar to "Please Open This Book" but in this one the narrator urges you to not open it! There's some dangerous animals that'll be let loose.

The artwork is quite nice by Matthew Forsythe.

[Amy]

The pictures in this book are lively and upbeat. Not a fan of the ending, which was essentially a trap for the animals involved. It's meant to be funny, but all I could think about was a kid asking if the alligator was really going to eat all of monkeys and toucans!

[Colby Sharp]

The best way for me to describe this book is that it is kind of like The Monster at the End of This Book on steriods.

[Jessica]

This turned Gabe from a whiny sullen tired kid into a giggling cuddle machine. Going to try it at storytime this week and see how the kids like it.

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer]

Check out more Picture book reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...

"CAUTION! This book contains monkeys, toucans, and a whole lot of silliness. You really shouldn't be opening this book. I'm serious. Just put it back on the shelf. Right...now. You're still reading this? Well, don't say I didn't warn you..."

We've read a couple other books by this author and I was and wasn't impressed. This one sounded really cute so i thought I'd get it for my nephew sometime... And with the lot that I picked out this was another winner! He LOVED this book and read it a couple more times after we finished, snapping the book closed, lol. He had ZERO trouble picking a page to draw. There is this magical combination in monkeys, toucans and an alligator that just causes giggles and delight.

The art is quite delightful and dark. It adds this creepy shiver down your back as you break the "rules" or the signs telling you to turn back. I love the tonal changes going from bright white backgrounds to dusty yellow and to totally black! The words are spot on and draw you into the story, but if words aren't necessary they aren't shoe-horned in, the page is left word free and it let me and my nephew discuss what was going on instead.

You may believe this is a message-less book, take that aunt obsessed with messages! Haha the jokes on you as this book has its message so woven into the story it isn't readily apparent even as its teaching its young readers... YOU must take action if you want something to happen. You've got to have a plan (trap) and execute it! It's quite ingenious and deserves a spot in EVERY home library... really the only thing its missing is a little brown boy!!

BOTTOM LINE: Perfect for a rule breaker to fall in love with reading!

______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my picture book reviews in a special feature called Boo's Picture Gallery...

[Abigail]

"Do not open this book!," cautions the narrator of this entertaining little picture-book romp, warning of the dangers - chiefly, monkeys - ahead if this advice is disregarded. The threatened monkeys do indeed appear, as the reader (naturally) continues to turn the pages, making quite a mess. Next come toucans, who add to the cacophony. But when an alligator appears, it becomes a real catastrophe! Fortunately, the narrator has a banana, and a plan that will enable the reader to safely trap all of these creatures...

A fun little book, one which involves the reader in the storytelling process, allowing them to enter into and participate in a game of make-believe through the reading process, Warning: Do Not Open This Book! was Adam Lehrhaupt's debut, revealing a fine sense of humor, and a deft sense of what will appeal to younger children. There isn't really a story here, per se, but the narrative is engaging all the same. The artwork, done by Matthew Forsyte, is likewise appealing, capturing the mischievous mayhem created by the monkeys, and the merry menace represented by the alligator. Recommended to those who enjoy more meta-fictional picture-books.

[Go]

Fun kids book with audience participation. My 2 year old son loved it. Even my 11 year old son thought it was entertaining. He laughed from the start after opening the cover of the book. It’s reverse psychology—“Do not open this book!” of course that’s exactly what you do—open the book. Since we did not heed the warning we were greeted with signs like “Come on…seriously?” and next to a skull another one read “Here is the last guy who read this book.” It was as if we ignored caution tape and entered a danger zone. Throughout the book there were more warnings to stop before things got worse. My youngest son looks at the book every day. He sings a taunting melody (similar to “Jaws”) until he sees a monkey on the loose, then he laughs on every other page after that as he sees monkeys jumping, painting, and playing the guitar. He likes to scream in mock terror when he sees the jaws of the alligator which he thinks is a dinosaur so he yells out “Di!” At the end he quickly closes the book and says “Bye.”

[Kendra]

I frankly adore this book: a postmodern, playful affair that begins by begging kids not to open the book because they'll let "the monkeys" out....



Four stars only because THE MONSTER AT THE END OF THIS BOOK did it first, and that book has my whole heart. But this is a fantastic, playful romp. Would recommend to kids of any age.

[katsok]

One reason I became a teacher was that I read The Monster at the End of This Book to a class of first graders when I was a second grader. It was a powerful moment with a book that I love. This book brings that feeling back. It's fun, silly, and brilliant. Can't wait to read it to my students.

[Cheryl]

Cute but redundant. Seriously, go back to The Monster at the End of this Book. The author's review is better than the book, actually.

[CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian]

Ha! Funny and meta with lots of potential for interactivity. Would be good for story time.

[Sierra Gonzales]

Warning: Do Not Open This Book! is a clever addition written by Adam Lehrhaupt. This story is about a secretly plan composed by the reader to catch the monkeys, toucans and alligator after proceeding forward in the book and never yielding to the warnings.

The book in refreshingly original because:
~ it breaks the fourth wall. The invisible narrator of the story leads you along while demanding the author to interact with the story; the book is completely based around whether the not the audience is willing to interact.
~ the story provides cause-and-effect scenarios for the reader to interact with and figure out. This type of problem-solving that, especially in lower level or easier children's books, helps influence and promote higher level comprehension skills. This also allows children to make inferences that can help better comprehend a text in a general sense.
~ the silly tale always children to make connections across different areas of meaning and create prototype to stereotype connections. The fact that the book explains the toucans and monkeys love bananas and they can use that to also catch the alligator. The book provides cross section learning rather then a linear problem-solving "Dora the Explorer"-esk tales.

This book is amazing for lower reading levels especially if they are able to hold the book themselves. It's also great for learning and understanding and obtaining beter comprehension skills because of the fully-captivating interaction. Warning: Do Not Open This Book is one that will become a new classic.

[Heidi-Marie]

Very cute. It begs to be done in storytime. And what a PERFECT lead in to "Five Little Monkeys Swingin' in a Tree."

10/23/13 This was the book that gave me an idea to do a Hello, Audience! storytime (since I love those kinds of books and figured I had enough to do as a theme). The kids loved this. It's a little shorter than I expected and I think that was my fault that it fell a little flat near the end. But the very end was great and they loved shutting their make-believe books. I think this could work in a toddler storytime. Loved that one of my girls tied in the alligator with "Tick Tock" as well as the song.

10/7/15 Opener for "Troublemakers" theme. Went very well, though halfway through the book I got a bunch of late-comers, all first-timers. They of course sat on the far edges. And then another newbie kept complaining that she couldn't see the book when I was panning to the sides. Obviously never been in a storytime before, as she caused a lot of other disruption as well.

7/12/12 Closer in my W theme. They really enjoyed it. They love telling me to move on when the book tells me not to, and are getting more used to books like that. Not tiring of them either! Even though it was the last book, I HAD to do "5 Little Monkeys Swinging in the Tree" afterwards. HAD to. It's already a favorite and it goes perfectly with the book. Surprised the kids with how fast I closed the book at the end. Good choice.

[Cruth]

Author: Adam Lehrhaupt
Illustrator: Matthew Forsythe
First Published: 2013

I don't know. It's one of those books that's purely entertainment. Lots of colour and movement, a simple story and certainly engaging. Readers are enticed to participate and embrace the humour and novelty.

It works.

But, you know, I like Bland's The Wrong Book better.


Do Not Open This Book! by Adam Lehrhaupt (from Amazon)

Do Not Open This Book! by Adam Lehrhaupt (from iTunes)

(ISBN 9781442435834)

-CR-

[Allen]

This is a book that basically tells the reader not to turn to the next page because of some peril that might befall them. There are monkeys, toucans, and an alligator. There is a cool little "trap" at the end of the book to rescue the reader.

I thought this book was going to be so much better than it was. It seemed to have such a great idea, but it fell short of my expectations. I didn't care much for the illustrations either as they seemed to be all over the place and "modernistic" in nature. (I'm not an author or an illustrator, so what I think doesn't really matter.)

I think the best use for this book would be to give it to a boy that was a reluctant reader. This may challenge him to read by "daring" him to turn to the next page.

[Jj]

Have you READ The Monster at the End of This Book? Have you SEEN I Want My Hat Back, This Is Not My Hat, or other works of Jon Klassen? If so, then YOU, my friends, have already read this book. Both un-original and un-inspired. Why do something new, different, or in an original style, when you can be derivative and redundant? Why not create a lackluster imitation of popular works of children's literature and offer it up as a new work? What a disappointment.

[Tom Atkinson]

This book is a great example of the proper use of the medium. The story begins on the front page and extends over the end pages all the way to the blurb which holds different meaning depending on whether you read it prior to the story or afterwards. The artwork is big bold and fun which combines well with the text. It really plays with what a reader can expect from the text and how the author interacts with the reader.

[AMY]

The book warns the reader not to read it because you don't want to let the monkeys out. The signs try to stop the reader but of course you want to keep turning the pages until the monkeys come out, go wild and make quite a mess. Next the toucans arrive. Later an alligator shows up. The author suggest you set a trap with a banana. It is very cute. It is a unique offering for young children. Highly recommended for Grades K-2.

[Florian]

Reverse psychology at its finest is an excellent tool in children's literature. Who doesn't love breaking the rules? When paired with monkeys, toucans, and a bossy narrator, its a recipe for fun reading.

The richly toned illustrations of monkeys monkeying about add to the hilarity. This would surely be a story time hit.

[Josie B.]

How did I miss this book when it was published? It is just the right length for my 3-5 year old class, with a plot involving monkeys, toucans, and an alligator-what preschooler could resist? It encourages problem solving, a skill we talk about frequently in preschool science class. I will report back after I have tried it in storytime.

[Rick]

Warning! Do not read this review! I warning you... stop now ... seriously ...

Well, now you've done it. I wash my hands of it. It's all your fault. You were warned.

Seriously, this is fun little read that is two barrels of monkeys full of fun. Yes, there are monkeys. And toucans. And an alligator. And a banana. But maybe I just spoiled something.

Well, I DID warn you!

[Niki]

My son Sam LOVES this book and I know my second graders will feel the same way....if I can sneak the book out of the house this week to share it with them. It reminds me of "We Are In a Book" and "The Monster at the End of this Book!" Just pure fun and great illustrations!

[Jordan]

Fans of Monkey Truck, this book is for you. Only it's significantly less weird.

Buy this title from Powell's Books.

[Caroline O'Brien]

This book has been very clearly written to entice the reader to turn the page and keep reading. Children love to challenge rules so this book is certain to excite them as they break these rules and turn the pages.

[Hmalowski]

Monkeys, toucans, alligators and a trap - it's load of interactive silliness. Reminds me so much of Monster at the End of this Book.