Roger is Reading a Book

by Koen van Biesen

All Roger wants is some peace and quiet so he can read his book. Unfortunately, the girl in the apartment next door has hobbies of her own -- very loud hobbies! But when Roger gives the girl a book of her own, she discovers that reading can be just as much fun as playing basketball or banging a drum. This playful and engaging read-aloud from an award-winning Belgian author shows readers that shared activities can lead to rewarding friendships.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Books About Books, Storytime, Animals, Juvenile

42 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Sharon Barrow Wilfong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book for all ages. The illustrations are compelling and expressive and while the words are extremely simple and the sentences short, the pictures tell the story splendidly!

I could read this book over and over again!

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sure all Goodread's members know the annoyance of wanting desperately to read, but being constantly distracted by someone else's NOISE. Welcome to Roger's world.

This one was particularly dear to me as I used to spend quiet summer evenings in my backyard with a book and a cool beverage. Now a family with three children lives behind me, and those calm evenings are a rarity.

Roger finally comes up with a solution to his reading problem only to discover that a HIGHER POWER will determine if he gets to read or not.



A swell, humorous tale for book lovers of all ages.

[IvyInThePages · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.6 leaves out of 5
Characters: 4/5
Cover: 3.5/5
Story: 3.5/5
Writing: 3.5/5
Genre: Children/Picture Book
Type: Book
Worth?: Sure

A good read about being quiet when someone else is reading. The art was kinda off putting but either way, good book.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roger wants to read, but Emily's activities tend to be pretty loud. I like his solution.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alena and I enjoyed reading this book. I like the illustrations. I like how Roger solves his problem and how the dog helps them both get outside. My husband's name is Roger, so that's fun. Also, I laughed out loud a little while reading this and a book that makes me laugh gets four stars.

[Ashley Brenae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book - the simple illustrations, the simple text, the power of a book. Roger us trying to read but Emily next door is just too noisy for him to concentrate. When his first strategy to get her to be quiet doesn’t work, he comes up with a better plan and ends up making a new friend. I can’t wait to read this to my kindergarteners - but I don’t know if they will love it as much as I did.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a gem of a book!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, how I can relate to this picture book from Belgium! Roger has settled down to enjoy some quiet reading time when his solitude is interrupted by the noisy activity of Emily, the girl who lives next door. Repeatedly, he knocks on the wall so she can quieten down. But things go from bad to worse, and with every new activity she tries, the noise increases. In desperation Roger provides her with some reading material, but then the two of them are interrupted from their reading by his dog. I liked the story and the increasing annoyance of Roger, but I especially the twist at the end, and the mixed media illustrations showing Roger's dog patiently waiting for a walk until it can wait no longer. The noises emitting from Emily's apartment are fun to say aloud. While the ability to get lost in a book is to be admired, sometimes it is necessary to put it down and take care of other matters.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such simple text with a big story! Roger is trying to read, but the sounds coming from his neighbor Emily are a huge distraction.
Each side of the double page spread represents Emily's apartment on the left and Roger's home on the right, with the gutter of the book being the wall between them. White background keeps the eye focused on the two main character, with a minimum of details actually gives it a homey feel as well as providing clues as to what the next noise will be.

The double surprise ending is very satisfying!

[Amy Seto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roger is reading a book. That is until Emily starts playing a game, “BOING BOING.” And singing a song. And playing the drum. How will Roger be able to read with all this noise? First published in Belgium, this distinctive book features playful mixed media illustrations that utilize photographs and bright line work. The repetitive text paired with illustrations that reinforce the vocabulary make this a great book for beginning readers.

Full review at http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an especially charming story for bookish families who love dogs, but really is fun for everyone. A little girl does various noisy (and fun) things while her father, Roger, tries to read a book. In the end, only getting her a book to read quiets her down. When they are both reading, the dog starts to bark to go out (I sympathize entirely). This would be a great story for a toddler story time! It would be fun for them to say the shhhhhh with you or pretend to do the various activities.

[Erin]

Roger spends most of the story trying to read his book but his next door neighbor’s continued antics prevent him from doing this. He finally solves his problems by giving the girl her own book to read swaying her from other louder activities. The book holds her attention until Roger's dog decides he can't wait anymore and must be walked. Simple line illustrations add to the whimsy of the story and the dog in particular is fun to watch on each page.

[Christiane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Or more accurately, Roger is TRYING to read a book but his young neighbor, Emily, prefers louder activities like singing, playing the drum, and practicing juggling. Finally, Roger comes up with a perfect solution. I love the illustrations, and the surprise ending made me go back and keep an eye on that basset hound who is telling us his own story on each page!

[Mary Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roger is reading a book. Next door, Emily is playing, singing, dancing and doing all kinds of things that make a lot of noise. Roger comes up with a brilliant solution to this noisy problem.
Great art but probably grown ups will appreciate the art more than kids will.

[Brindi Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

these illustrations are lovely! and it would be easy to incorporate sounds while reading to the kiddos, and it's repetitive so the kids can repeat back lines. i like it!

[Pamela Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful! Can't wait to read this one with students and other small children. Roger is trying to read a book but Emily is providing many distractions until roger has an idea.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A witty, clever story with a mischievous twist, wonderfully illustrated in whimsical mixed-media, and beautifully designed.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute story with few words. You don’t need a lot of words to understand what’s happening and if you follow along with the illustrations, the pictures tell the story. In the story, Roger is knocking and, in the illustration, Roger is standing but instead of seeing his right arm bent in a fist knocking, the author put three views of his right arm, in three different angles, so it looks like that arm is in motion. I think this is very clever. There are other instances of this in the book, examples of motion, where the character is just drawn on the page.

Roger is trying to trying to read a book. Sitting on a stool with his dog lying beside him on the floor, Roger is concentrating on his book when Emily starts playing in the room next door. Roger knocks on the door and I have to assume that he asks her to “shhhh!” Roger goes back to his chair to read and Emily, well she doesn’t bounce the balls anymore for now, she starts to sing. REAL LOUD! Again, Roger has to stop reading and now, the dog gets into the action. Roger knocks again “noisily” and yes, my friends the two characters retreat. Roger to reading and Emily to ………are you ready? Playing the drums!! Holy Batman! The illustration on this page is hilarious!! The look on Emily’s face and poor Roger and his dog. You have to know what happens next. Will Roger ever be able to read his book? Why is Emily not letting Roger read? Can the dog help anyone? The ending is perfect.

It's such a cute and entertaining story. There’s not a lot words and the ones that are used are repeated so this is good for beginning readers. The illustrations aren’t fancy and colorful but they are perfect for this book. I have to say that I was hesitate about this book when I saw it at the library but after reading it, I had to pick it up and read it with my grandkids. We all had a good laugh and really enjoyed it. A fun, simple, entertaining story. 5 stars

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roger is Reading a Book is a graphic representation of two characters on either side of the book simultaneously doing activities. Roger is quietly reading a book, while Emily is noisily playing. This book would be engaging for lessons in onomatopoeia for our first grade class. Each time Roger settles into his book, and the page turns, we see that Emily find something new to make noise with whether it is basketball “BOING BOING” or singing “LA LA LA.” Finally Roger knock on the gutter of the book, which we assume is the wall between them. After many attempts at knocking, Roger sends over a gift for Emily! It’s a book, and she is reading, too. However, it doesn’t end there…”WOOF, WOOF, WOOF, WOOF” the dog needs to be walked. Oh no, it’s raining!

This playful story from Koen Van Biesen is translated from Flemish/Belgian by Laura Watkinson in 2015. This book was in the International Literature recommended section of my graduate class text, Children’s Books in Children’s Hands. I found it on YouTube by The Lilys Read.

This entertaining book was enjoyable to read, provides an opportunity to teach sound words during literacy, and it also has a believable plot. Often times, adults are focusing on one thing or another, competing with a distraction outside of their control. In this story, the characters are true to life and give the reader an opportunity to empathize. I would read this book to my class, and recommend it to my first grade teammates.

[Arnela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel Rogers pain, I too want some quiet to read some books.

Emily, his adorable little neighbor, has a lot of hobbies; basketball, singing, the ballet, boxing, juggling [I am very proud of the diverse interests of this girl, but considering that it's dark outside in the story, and they live in apartments, she probably needs to quiet down].

Roger can't focus with all the noise so he decides to give her a new activity, Roger gives her a book to read, and they both enjoy some silence.... until the dog barks up a fuss cause he needs to go out.

It's a cute and quick read about how maybe suggesting a quiet activity will work out better in your favor than just knocking [or telling someone to quiet down, give them something to be quiet with]. I especially loved how the dog was quietly trying to alert Roger to needing to go out, but he got ignored until he started borking. I'm a fan of when illustrations actually SHOW me something needs to happen, instead of telling me or jumping from act to act and scene to scene without proper transition. Kudos to this kids book for doing something most professional graphic novels fail at.

While it's an easy read, you might wanna read it with a 5+ year old, since they'll probably understand why Roger is frustrated, as well as get the joke of the dog being loud once it finally gets all quiet.

[Cynthia Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review: ADORED the illustrations, absolutely! Was charmed by the story, and the beautiful rising tension, and the resolution with the dog. A story of tension, with calm and unification at the end.

My kids' review: Loved the illustrations, fascinated by the outline combined with fuller art techniques. Giggled about the little girl, related to her. Enjoyed the resolution. In sum, entertaining, but did not elicit any "Awwwww," or "Read it again" reactions.

Now me? I read it again. I found is utterly charming.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roger is reading a book. A young neighbor suddenly interrupts the quiet by bouncing a basketball, Roger politely knocks on the way and everything goes back to being quiet. But not for long. Emily, the neighbor, then beings to sing; Roger knocks again, not so politely. Then Emily begins playing the drums. This goes on and on until finally Roger goes out and gets Emily a gift. Inside the box is a book. Finally all is quiet. Until the dog needs to be walked.

Children will enjoy making the sounds when all is quiet.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roger is just trying to read his book but his neighbor Emily keeps interrupting with her loud hobbies. Will Roger ever get some peace and quiet? I love all of the possibilities for the usage of this book in the classroom. This would be a great anchor text for teachers to use who are studying onomatopoeias. This could also be a great anchor text for studying problem and solution.

[Carolyn Jeziorski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roger just wants to read, but his neighbor has very loud hobbies. This is good for a pattern story and noticing changes to the pattern. I was drawn to the illustrations; they remind me of cartoons you’d find in The New Yorker.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

All Roger wants to do is read his book. However, Emily is playing all sorts of noisy games next door. Finally, Roger gets her a book too. Then everyone quietly reads until one more character (the dog) makes his opinion known and everyone heads outside to enjoy the day.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our son’s speech therapist recommended we ask a librarian for book recommendations that might help him work on loud vs quiet. This was one of the suggestions and it became an instant hit at our house. Our kiddos’ all ask for it, ages 5, 3, and 1.

[Heydi Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, yes, and yes! Oh Roger I feel your pain. All you want to do is read but all these noises keep getting in your way. Bravo for your brilliant solution.

A great storytime book!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect read-aloud for readers hoping to inspire more readers! Great fun for old and young alike. Even if you think you're too old for picture books, this one will make you laugh!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute. I liked it. Reading is fun.

[Lisa Delaine Youngblood · Rating 5 out of 5]

reading
quiet
loud
onamatpoeia