Once Upon a Book

by Grace Lin (Author/Illustrator), Kate Messner

From Caldecott and Newbery Honoree Grace Lin and bestselling author Kate Messner comes a modern folktale about the joy of reading.

Once upon a time, there was a girl.  She went to a place alive with colors, where even the morning dew was warm.   Alice loves to imagine herself in the magical pages of her favorite book. So when it flaps its pages and invites her in, she is swept away to a world of wonder and adventure, riding camels in the desert, swimming under the sea with colorful fish, floating in outer space, and more! But when her imaginative journey comes to an end, she yearns for the place she loves best of all.

Paired with vibrant illustrations, this lyrical, expressive story invites the reader to savor each page and indulge in the power of imagination.

Genres: Picture Books, Books About Books, Fantasy, Childrens, Adventure, Fiction, Family

40 pages, Hardcover

First published February 7, 2023

Reviews

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for books about books and this one is wonderful. I saw the end coming a mile away (and some children will also) but that didn’t diminish the delight I felt in reading & viewing it.

The story is great and book lovers of all ages will understand it.

The illustrations are beautiful and colorful. I laughed when I saw the image of the girl’s dress with text on it and then loved how her clothing (or lack of clothing) changed as the story setting changed. Clever and creative! I loved the facial expressions of Alice and of her parents, especially on the last page.

I appreciated how this story is an affirmation about the power of books & reading and also shows the support and acceptance present in a loving family.

I have enjoyed other books by this illustrator and this author. They team up well for this book.

4-1/2 stars

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and sweet. I love that her name is Alice and that there's a white rabbit. I also love the green screen effect with her dress.

Library copy

[Raven Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing that could make this book cooler is if Tomie de Paola was involved. But since, sadly he is no longer with us, this cannot not humanly be any better. This is a sweet book about imagination and some far out fantastic illustrations. The colors pop off the page, and maybe a little ironic after saying that my favorite image is the moon and all black. I love how the young girls outfit fades into background, making her immersed into the story. I would love to know, however, what the book her "word dress" is from. Or where the text is from.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

It happens to all of us regardless of the length. When the last word is read and the cover is closed, we look up. For a few moments, we are confused as to where and when we are. We are still lost in a story, a story other than our real lives. Not only are we still part of the world within those pages, but we come away with having found something. It may be something we have misplaced or misunderstood or something fresh and new.

This is the gift of a book, given to us again and again whenever the cover is opened. Authored by Grace Lin and Kate Messner with illustrations by Grace Lin, Once Upon a Book (Little, Brown And Company, February 07, 2023) is a layered narrative with hidden references to other titles and different cultures. It is a story of longing and belonging.

My full recommendation https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vibrant illustrations and a strong sense of imagination and fantasy celebrate the joys of reading.

[Kate Willis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awww. Loved the illustrations especially!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once Upon a Book is a super cute picture book about the magic of reading. Books can transport you from one place to another whenever you feel unhappy with where you are (like on a rainy day you can't go out). The art is cute, the story is cute, and it's a fun read. Recommended!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young girl reads and enjoys the magical experiences in her book as she unlocks the wonders in its pages, becoming part of the book itself. Isn't that what happens to us all as we read any book? We become the book, the book becomes us.

Brilliant.

[Stephanie Affinito · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a little girl, I’d get so immersed in the book I was reading that I’d tune everything else out. I wouldn’t hear people talking to me, I’d miss any commotion happening around me and I’d often blink and look around in confusion when I finally emerged from the page into the read world.

I loved getting lost in the world of books. I still do.

I think that’s why I adore Grace Lin and Kate Messner’s new picture book: Once Upon a Book.

This beautifully illustrated book literally immerses you in a story of childlike wonder and reading refuge. In it, we meet Alice. Alice is a young girl who is fed up with the cold, dreary days of winter and escapes into the pages of her book to faraway lands that look and feel very different from her own.

Page by page, she travels to a tropical jungle with the birds, the blazing hot desert with the camels, a refreshing coral reef with the fish, the wide-open freedom of the sky with the clouds and the quiet calm of the moonlight. While all of these places each had something wonderful to offer, what Alice ultimately wished for was a place full of coziness and warmth… her own home.

While readers will become entranced in Alice's story, they’ll literally experience it for themselves as a result of the artfully designed illustrations. Each two-page spread ensconces the entire page and alternates between living in a scene directly from Alice’s book to exploring the next page to come, propelling the reader through the story.

But the best part of the book, in my opinion, is the clever way Alice literally disappears into the pages. The story began with Alice wearing an adorable dress made out of fabric that resembled the pages of a book. As she jumps into the story, her dress literally blends in with the scenery as she gets lost inside the pages, just how I imagined myself doing the same as a child.

Reading Once Upon a Book will remind you of the power of reading and the utter joy readers feel when they lose themselves in the pages. This is a book to be read, to be savored and to spark a joyful reading habit.

[Christine Barth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the concept of books taking you anywhere and the illustrations are very fun.

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once Upon a Book captures the vivid sensory experience of childhood reading, as a little girl tired of staying indoors in the winter indulges in some literary tourism. A delightful ending, and I love what Lin did with Alice's dress and her toy rabbit.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and fanciful little story about how reading will take us to different places. I love the artwork, because it fits so nicely. And a fun thing, in every part of the story, wherever the little girl goes, you can find a little white rabbit. This is a lovely new book.

[Serenity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, especially the illustrations. I think Grace Lin’s choices for Alice’s dress made for a cool visual effect, and sharp-eyed young readers will enjoy the Easter eggs in the text.

I think I’ll read this with my older students and see what they think before I read it to my younger kids, but this may be a contender for my Mock Caldecott.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love books about books and the magic of entering literary worlds. This happens with BEAUTIFUL illustrations and to be honest, I smell possible Caldecott something with this one

[Barleen Kaur · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautifully written book that captures the essence of life and the appreciation for one’s home! In this book, a little girl finds herself immersed in a book after claiming that her home was gray and boring. This is often the case when children have nothing to do! In the book, she travels to various environments all over the world. Each area seemed to get more and more beautiful, in which the illustrator captured all the small but relevant details. It turns out that the little girl encounters an issue in every environment she goes to. After dealing with each dilemma, the little girl repeatedly wishes to go to a different place, and turns the page to travel to a new area. Eventually, she wishes to go to a place of comfort, and she finds herself getting back home, where she always belonged. I thought that this was an excellent way to end the book, in which the story circles back to the girl’s own home. One of the major themes in the book is that being in various conditions and places allows one to appreciate the life that they have. I thought this was the theme because the little girl never seemed to find an area in which she felt like she belonged. In fact, she always found some sort of issue with every environment she went to, no matter how beautiful and diverse it was to her. In the end, she unknowingly chooses to go back to a place of warmth and togetherness, where her mom is cooking a warm meal. In the beginning, the girl did not appreciate the warmth and belonging in her home. However, after going through hardships throughout all the places she traveled to, she realized that her home was her favorite place after all. Another theme that I noticed in the book is that experiencing a different lifestyle or perspective allows one to better understand the diverse ways of life and evokes awareness and understanding for that lifestyle. I thought that this was the theme because the little girl had her first experience in all the different lifestyles and environments, and she ended up discovering that they were not as perfect as she originally thought. By being able to have that experience, the girl was able to understand the struggles and empathize with the different issues she faced. The main genre of this book is fantasy, as the book does a great job portraying different worlds, to which the little girl is able to travel to by simply turning the page. It was also so clever how the animals spoke to the little girl, as if they were real people! Even the clouds and moon talked to the little girl, making it clear that the fantastical elements drove the plot. Children reading this wonderful book could learn how to be able to understand different cultures and environments, as well as see a new perspective on the ways of life that some people experience. This could lead a child to become more open-minded and versatile. Children reading this book could also learn the importance of cherishing and valuing one’s culture and lifestyle. By being thrown into a new world with no one to look up to or be with, it fosters a lonely environment and makes children treasure their home. This book was a WOW book for me because of the amazing story it had to tell. The book was rich with culture and learning, especially through the exploration of diverse ideas and experiences. The illustrations further advanced the story for me by providing me visuals that described the complications that the little girl faced in each setting. This is a great book that provides a good lesson on exploring other perspectives, all with a whimsical twist! The warmth and allure of the girl’s home reminds me of my own home. I felt that I could connect to the little girl in all her adventures.

One of the writing craft techniques that the author used in the book was the use of imagery to describe the different environments in the world. The author used descriptive language that detailed the colors, feelings, and sights that the little girl saw in the oceans, forests, space, and deserts. It was beautifully described! This writing craft example enhanced the quality of the writing in this book because it helped to accurately display the vast areas that the little girl visited, helping readers appreciate the new sights and understand the struggles and limitations that one can face in a different culture and area. Another writing craft technique that the author used in the book was the repetition of “That sounds like my home.” In each environment, the individuals and materials that made up the environment called to the little girl and lured her to visit their home after she wished to go to a place similar to each caller’s home. The repetition of “That sounds like my home” enhances the quality of the book, as it is a perfect use of repetition to display how each individual has their own home that they belong to and enjoy living in. It shows that everyone has something to call their home, and each home has its own unique beauty, different from anyone else’s. The author portrayed anti-bias perspectives in this book by including the concepts that show diverse areas all around the world, portraying the beauty and the struggles of living in different kinds of environments. This allows the readers to get different perspectives and learn to connect and understand the various backgrounds that one can come from, as well as evoke empathy and gain insight on viewpoints that are different than one’s own. I thought that this book was an excellent window to learning about culture rich areas and settings around the world. I would definitely recommend this to a young audience, so they can feel the same joy that I did!

[Nishka Sehgal · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read Once Upon a Book by Grace Lin and Kate Messner, I felt like I was being gently scooped up into a dream. It’s one of those stories that makes you pause and remember what it felt like to be a child—restless, imaginative, and craving a little escape. The book follows a young girl named Alice, who is stuck indoors on a cold, gray day. She looks to her books, seeking comfort, and that book invites her in. From there, Alice searches for a good place to stay. She rides camels and swims for fish under the sea, and even goes to outer space. Throughout her journey, Alice's dress changes to match each environment, which was such a captivating addition to the story. This symbolizes her immersion in these worlds. Ultimately, Alice realizes that, despite the wonders she's experienced, she yearns for the comfort and warmth of home.

Alice’s restlessness felt really relatable. Adults and children have the urge to go away somewhere different. I know that I often wanted to go somewhere where I wouldn’t be controlled and afraid, afraid of people and disappointing them. That makes the first theme really clear: books are portals. They’re not just stories; they’re invitations to explore, to feel, to imagine. A second theme is the journey of wandering and realizing that what you needed was with you all along. Finally, I think this book celebrates the power of wonder and curiosity. Alice doesn’t just want to read; she wants to experience the worlds she dives into. Words on paper need to become words in her hands.
The primary genre here is fantasy. The story contains magical realism of Alice stepping into a book and visiting the worlds inside its pages. Essentially, it’s a book within a book.

Children can learn several things from this book. The first thing is appreciating home. Even after seeing so many amazing places, Alice realizes she misses home. Children can learn that while it’s fun to explore new things, the comfort and love of home are special and grounding. Next, is the joy of reading. The story is a love letter to books. Lastly is mindfulness and mood awareness At the beginning, Alice is feeling gloomy. Her journey can help kids recognize their own emotions and see that sometimes, exploring new perspectives (like through stories) can help them see a different side to life.

I also want to add that, instructionally, this would be great for a writing or art prompt: “If you could step into any book, where would you go?” or “What would your story world look like?” If I were given this prompt I think it would be a whole book.

Once Upon a Book contains repetition and rhythm. Every time Alice moves to a new setting, the structure of the sentences mirrors the previous ones. Another literary device that stood out was personification—the book actually speaks to Alice. This brings the story to life in a powerful way, making the idea of books as companions feel very real. This book also utilizes imagery, which is both written and visual. The language paints vivid pictures, and the illustrations are immersive, textured, and culturally rich.

As for bias, Once Upon a Book is a good example of a story that is inclusive and respectful. The protagonist, Alice, is Asian, and her presence in a whimsical story about imagination and the need for belonging is significant. Although there are no messages about her race or culture, her identity is present in a natural way. The environments she explores are diverse, celebrating global landscapes and experiences, which encourages kids to appreciate a wide world without stereotyping or cultural appropriation.

This is a WOW book for me because it made me yearn for the feeling of reading as a child. I still love to read. I still get excited. But there’s so much distressing noise now, and my anxiety has skyrocketed since I was a kid. Moreover, I loved the illustrations by Grace Lin. Every page is like a doorway, and that's what books should be.

[Emma Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoiler-free summary:
""Once Upon a Book" by Grace Lin is a delightful picture book that celebrates the joy of reading and storytelling. Through charming illustrations and engaging text, the book follows a young girl as she discovers the magic of books and the worlds they contain. From fairy tales to adventures, each story she reads transports her to new and exciting places, sparking her imagination and creativity. As the girl explores the pages of her favorite books, she learns valuable lessons and finds inspiration in the characters she meets. "Once Upon a Book" is a love letter to the power of literature and the endless possibilities that come with every turn of the page" (ChatGPT, June 10, 2024).

Commentary:
This book could go along with the book, "The Year I Learned to Fly". They both use imagination and creativity as a large plot in their story. This teaches children that their imagination is endless and there is nothing that they cannot do. The magic and fairytale aspects are a great way for it to play a role in the classroom. Children remember fairytales and the stories that go along with it so this book would hopefully be one they wouldn't forget.

Application:
In my classroom, I would probably use this at the same time that I use "The Year I Learned to Fly" because they both align very well on the topic of interpersonal relationships and imagination/creativity. We could have two groups of students where they each are read the story and asked to do an activity that coordinates with the story they are read. They we can switch groups so that all of the students can hear both stories, then we can come together as a class and compare and contrast the stories and relate them to real-life circumstances.

[Ethan Ho · Rating 4 out of 5]

A children's book that I was going to use for a CFD course but instead switched it out for another, which I will review once my paper has been completed.

A simple story that tells the tale of a child, Alice, that is stuck indoors during the winter. She travels through a a story when a book is flipped open and she visits wonderous landscapes, from the jungle to being in outer Tspace.

What makes this children's book stand-out to other's is that the story are the illustrations. The pictures are full of color and wonder, that mimics the imagination of a child's perspective of the world around them. The texture of the pages are another element that keeps children engaged as when she is in a new area, the page is soft and smooth but once an issue arises, the pages are more rough and textured.

The child learns that no matter where she goes, something can always go wrong, where her family will always welcome her back with open arms. The perfect story of a grand adventure, with hidden Easter eggs for the audience to find.

[Amanda Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations with only a few words. This book seems to be a nod to Alice in Wonderland. Oddly, I've never read that. When I look at this book, I wonder what I've missed. For example, I love the little girl's dress, which is from the pages of AinW. What else would I find if I knew more?

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this gorgeous book to 2nd graders for their first library visit of the year. Let’s get excited about books and all the places they can bring us! The kiddos were especially interested in Alice’s ever-changing dress and the different environments.

[Monique the Book Geek]

This sweet picture book reminds me a lot of my childhood, always picturing myself in the books I was reading.

[Emily Carlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reaffirming my love for all things written by Grace Lin.

[Ann Haefele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect picture book about the joys of reading. The illustrations have gorgeous color that make everything “pop” off the page. I love that the main character is named Alice and that there’s a white rabbit that leads her into each adventure. Also like that her dress acts as a “green screen” in each world. I would like to know what book the words on her dress are from.

[Dudee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful book! Simple but imaginative story, and it pays homage to a classic. The illustrations were beautiful and amazing, rich with colors, and the girl blended in wonderfully. There is another character showed up at each page, echoing the homage, and make reading this book a fun activity for young kids. This is designed for kids 4-8 years old.

[Christine Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace Lin's beautiful art lights up this new book by her and Kate Messner. On a gray day, curious Alice climbs inside her favorite book and goes on adventures with colorful birds, camels, fish, and the stars. This will make a perfect read aloud for wiggly preschoolers and early elementary-aged kids. For added fun ask the kids to spot the white rabbit on every spread.

[Marcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the illustrations as I do love all Grace Lin’s work. More times with rerads the more I love this. I'm going to pair it with David Wiesner's Three Little Pigs with the 4th/5th graders tomorrow and see what they think. Been listening to ALA Notable committee discussions and it helped me see even more to love in this.

[MaryJo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely colorful detailed illustrations

[Madisson Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book we get to see a little girl go through a journey of being dissatisfied with the different places she’s in based around a book. This book speaks to Alice and takes her from the real world, bringing her to a place where she wants to go. We get to see Alice ride on camels, swim with fish and dance with the clouds. A major theme that I notice from this book is that it is OK to want more but don’t wish for more when what you have is enough. I understand Alice is a child and wants to have fun while going on an adventure but at the end of the book she realized she missed home! Another theme is simpler as it supports children’s creative side which is to ‘dream big’. Create those stories in your head that allow time to pass by and let you live out any dream you want! The main genre is adventure. Children reading this book could learn that the sky is the limit and to dream big. They could also learn the value of nothing is ever perfect, there will always be something that they don’t find appealing anymore. Another concept might be that its ok to change your mind. We see Alice unhappy and begin to create wild worlds in her head, but we also see how easy it was to be aware of the things she disliked and want something else. Sometimes kids aren’t given the opportunity to change nor speak their mind when it comes to certain things in life. This was a WOW book for me because I’ve never read a children’s literature book that switched scenes that fast. When I was younger, I also never dived into ‘adventure’ books. I enjoyed seeing the different places Alice went and how the author made the book so easy but entertaining to read with the illustrations and wording.
Some of the literary devices the author used in writing this book were alliteration, personification, imagery, metaphor, and repetition. These techniques enhanced the quality of the writing by creating vivid and engaging descriptions that transported readers like me to a fantastical world with Alice. For example, phrases like "a place of sparkling sand, where the sun would dry her" utilize imagery and metaphor to create sensory experiences and enhance the audience’s engagement in the story. I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it doesn’t highlight specific stereotypes, ethnicities, or cultures. Instead, the book focuses on the theme of imagination, adventure, and contentment that resonate with children of all backgrounds.

[Taylor Yim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once Upon a Book by Grace Lin and Kate Messner shows how books can spark our imagination and take us to new places. In this book, a girl named Ava explores the wonders of reading. As she reads, she is able to immerse herself in the stories and take herself on a journey of adventures. There are beautiful illustrations that match the text and invite readers to explore the wonders books have. The major themes in the book were imagination and the power of storytelling. Ava’s journey shows how books can transport us to different worlds, allowing us to open our imaginations and creativity. This book also highlights how stories can shape our thoughts, ideas, emotions, and connect us with others. Through Ava’s adventure, we can see that storytelling not only entertains but also helps us make sense of the world and our place in it. The main genre of this book is fantasy. Through reading this book, I learned how much books can shape our understanding of the world and our imaginations. The book encourages readers to not just look at books as educational but as a way to spark imagination and adventure. This book was a WOW book for me because it reminded me of the joys of reading for pleasure. The illustrations were beautiful and enhanced the story of the magical experience of reading.
Two of the literary devices the author used in writing this book were repetition and imagery. The use of repetition of the phrases “So she did,” “That sounds like our home,” and “Turn the page and come in,” creates a sense of familiarity with the readers and invites them to join her journey. It makes each place seem like a new adventure and leads the reader to another imaginative possibility, keeping the story engaging. The use of imagery enhances the story by vividly describing the magical worlds Ava would encounter. From a rainforest, desert, ocean, sky, space, and back to her home, this imagery helps readers visualize her adventures from reading and makes readers immerse themselves in the story. I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it emphasizes that stories can connect people with others and different perspectives and ideas. It encourages readers to value and appreciate diverse perspectives and the value of learning from stories.

[Susan Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is quite possibly the best children's book of the year. Definitely one of the most beautifully and imaginatively illustrated. It is the perfect illustrated nod to Alice in Wonderland. Alice is stuck inside and it's raining. She tired of being cold. She puts on a special dress (I'm guessing it's an "imagination" frock or something-- as she takes it out of the bureau, I can read some of the words, which are taken from Lewis Carroll's first page of Alice in Wonderland-- the words "tired" and "book" are right there), and a book "flaps" at her. There's a white rabbit on the page of the book, and the book words echo the narration words of the book. (Also, her "book" frock has more Lewis Carroll excerpts on it; they differ on every page that the words appear). Alice is reading a book about herself, Alice, going to a variety of different wonderful dreamy locations, invited by the locals themselves. All readers, young and old, should delight in the realistic quality of the illustrations when Alice is skulking around her house, and when her hands, so realistically conveyed, are holding a book which depicts her entrance into a variety of fantastic destinations. Very Van Allsburg, very Wiesner-esque. She enters a colorful jungle (it's too rainy); a sparkling desert (icky sand storms); a coral ocean (she gets caught in seaweed); a scenic sky (she gets caught in a thunderstorm); and finally, outer space. But space is lonely, and she eventually wishes to come home. She follows the sound of her mother's voice and returns home. The illustrations are beyond exquisite, and they tell their own story. When Alice is in her new locations, her "book" frock becomes a green screen, subtly taking the color of the background of her surroundings. When she transitions between home and her imaginative journeys, her "book" frock has words which are excerpts from Alice in Wonderland. Please take the time to find the White Rabbit who is accompanying Alice. It might take some effort, he is almost as elusive as Waldo. Young and old readers should savor this perfect book.