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The Pagemaster
Enter the world of The Pagemaster where the world's greatest fiction becomes reality and a young boy gets caught up in an incredible adventure.
85 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
15 people are currently reading
694 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
April 9, 2021
I first read this some years ago when I was a kid. I apparently read it so many times that my copy of the book had to be taped together (its a hot mess!). I re-read it for the first time in a long time, it brought back memories of the film. I'll have to re-watch it to see if the film still holds up. There are some subtle literary jokes that I know I did not get when I was younger. Although the book (and probably the film) is cheesy, in retrospect, it still has an important message on the importance of books and facing your fears.
July 29, 2015
When I was around nine or ten years old, my teacher read this to our class and we loved it. Aside from the teacher's really funny Junie B. Jones impression, this book was just about the best part of third grade! I found it at a neighbor's garage sale and I freaked out, bought it, and then ran home to the couch. I didn't get up until two hours later when I finished the entire book. It's not really the kind of book where you admire the unique style or fancy metaphors or anything, but it's a great read and the characters have a lot of personality. They all have their own little quirks and are especially fun to read to little kids if you read each one with their own voice. Also, when you're reading this book, pay attention to the pictures. They are beautiful and incredibly finely detailed, and it probably took longer to draw each of them than to write the book itself. Characters, pictures, and a really fun journey, this book was amazing (both times)! If you haven't read it, read it right now, and if you have already, read it again! Kids of any age, 1 to 121, will love this book!
July 18, 2023
This was a very memorable book (and Movie) from my childhood.
July 18, 2023
Absolutely gorgeous edition of The Pagemaster. I've loved this story since I was little and I'm so pleased to get a copy of the book in such good condition.
October 19, 2025
One of my favorite movies from my childhood and the movie I rented the most from Blockbuster, The Pagemaster. Love it so much and this book was a fun revisit to the story. It bothers me that in one illustration, Richard doesn’t have his glasses. As he’s riding his bike home and goes over the ramp. 😆 I just have to point it out. But the illustrations are amazing except for that one little error that just drives me nuts lol The story is one of my favorites as a lover of books and a frequent library user. I love this story so much!
April 9, 2020
I've never seen the movie, but when I saw this beautifully illustrated edition at Goodwill I had to buy it. I just finished reading it to my kids and they unanimously gave it 5 stars. I would not rate it that highly...but hey! it was for the kids. There was definitely character development--even if it is a well-worn path (wimpy, scared kid learns to take risks and be adventurous with the help of a rag-tag band of friends).
August 28, 2025
3* e mezzo. Grande nostalgia, bellissime illustrazioni! ♥
February 12, 2019
I may not remember everything about my childhood, but whenever I think about books that cemented my love for reading and fictional realities in general, it's always The Pagemaster that rises above all else. It's impossible for me to figure out how many times I've actually read it.
An old-fashioned adventure where a timid boy finds the courage to cross obstacles, with the help of three books come to life, it now seems that it was tailor-made for the younger me. A magical treasure island, Jekyll's claustrophobic abode, pickled brain next to a monster lying on a slab, ghosts, sea adventures, a dragon... There are so many things that have stayed with me throughout my life and maybe even subconsciously affected my reading choices, and a lot of that magic is conjured by the fantastic illustrations. One of them (an angry dragon) brought about a wave of gasps from the boys in my class when I used this in a book report at the age of 7 or 8.
It's impossible to get rid of that particular nostalgic haze when you think about your old favorites, and with that might come the extra nostalgia points when you revisit them, but I'm happy to say that in the case of The Pagemaster I was able to enjoy it just as much as I did when I read it in secret under a blanket after the whole house had gone to sleep. I'm also happy to report that now, as an almost 30-year-old woman, I spotted something I hadn't before: although Richard learns how to enjoy life and gain self-assurance because of the strange events that start happening when he goes to the library, you don't need to actually get kidnapped by pirates to find a way to fulfillment and adventure in ordinary everyday life. A bit of imaginary fairy dust makes you breathe easier, but overdosing on it will make you forget all the nice things outside the fictional world.
An old-fashioned adventure where a timid boy finds the courage to cross obstacles, with the help of three books come to life, it now seems that it was tailor-made for the younger me. A magical treasure island, Jekyll's claustrophobic abode, pickled brain next to a monster lying on a slab, ghosts, sea adventures, a dragon... There are so many things that have stayed with me throughout my life and maybe even subconsciously affected my reading choices, and a lot of that magic is conjured by the fantastic illustrations. One of them (an angry dragon) brought about a wave of gasps from the boys in my class when I used this in a book report at the age of 7 or 8.
It's impossible to get rid of that particular nostalgic haze when you think about your old favorites, and with that might come the extra nostalgia points when you revisit them, but I'm happy to say that in the case of The Pagemaster I was able to enjoy it just as much as I did when I read it in secret under a blanket after the whole house had gone to sleep. I'm also happy to report that now, as an almost 30-year-old woman, I spotted something I hadn't before: although Richard learns how to enjoy life and gain self-assurance because of the strange events that start happening when he goes to the library, you don't need to actually get kidnapped by pirates to find a way to fulfillment and adventure in ordinary everyday life. A bit of imaginary fairy dust makes you breathe easier, but overdosing on it will make you forget all the nice things outside the fictional world.
In the darkness of the tree house something stirred - the sound of pages rustling. - - - Adventure looked around and took a deep breath. "Do ye smell it? Breathe it in, mates!" He thrust his sword in the air. "Now this be the land of Adventure!"
May 17, 2020
A great book to read to the kids! It had everything and I had a blast acting out all the characters!
February 28, 2023
The film of this book was such a huge part of my childhood but I only recently discovered it started as a book. Reading this book brought back the joy of childhood for me. It's especially meaningful for me as an avid reader both in childhood and adulthood.
For all the parents out there, buy this book. You'll enjoy reading it and the kids will enjoy hearing it. Teach them that even if they're scared, they can do anything and that, when all else fails, just look to the books.
For all the parents out there, buy this book. You'll enjoy reading it and the kids will enjoy hearing it. Teach them that even if they're scared, they can do anything and that, when all else fails, just look to the books.
July 23, 2024
The Pagemaster. This is the original book that the Christopher Lloyd movie was based on. I love reading the books that inspire the movies. The story is great and the illustrations are museum quality. I highly recommend this book to any fans of the movie. You’ll be blown away. :)
September 13, 2023
A fun read!
As someone that works in the library I would love to see some books come to life, that's every readers dream I suppose.
This had a great morale also which I like. I watched this movie a bit as a kid and loved it was great to read also!
As someone that works in the library I would love to see some books come to life, that's every readers dream I suppose.
This had a great morale also which I like. I watched this movie a bit as a kid and loved it was great to read also!
March 25, 2022
This book was SO GOOD! It kept me up late at night! This will forever be one of those childhood favorites that I can't seem to let go of.
January 15, 2025
I was obsessed with this book back in the day.
As soon as i found out that the movie had a beautiful book version, I checked it out of my school library. Repeatedly.
Rereading it as an adult, i remembered all the bits that freaked me out (name one kid who doesn't have nightmares about Frankenstein's monster) as well as the books that i wanted to read because they were mentioned in here.
Its charming, beautifully illustrated and has a great message about facing your fears. As someone with a lot of anxiety, it was great to remember how much braver this book made me feel when i was a little.
As soon as i found out that the movie had a beautiful book version, I checked it out of my school library. Repeatedly.
Rereading it as an adult, i remembered all the bits that freaked me out (name one kid who doesn't have nightmares about Frankenstein's monster) as well as the books that i wanted to read because they were mentioned in here.
Its charming, beautifully illustrated and has a great message about facing your fears. As someone with a lot of anxiety, it was great to remember how much braver this book made me feel when i was a little.
March 2, 2025
(Review from 2023)
"The Pagemaster" was one of my favorite movies when I was a kid so by extension this illustrated adaptation/expansion has a special place in my heart. Pretty much follows the movie's plot almost exactly although I remember there was an extra section of the book that included a scene from Frankenstein which as a kid was the coolest addition ever. Beyond that, the illustrations for this were gorgeous.
Maybe its just rose colored glasses tinting my look back at this, but The Pagemaster truly does feel like a special book. If you never see the movie, this book is a worthy substitute to offer to your own kids.
"The Pagemaster" was one of my favorite movies when I was a kid so by extension this illustrated adaptation/expansion has a special place in my heart. Pretty much follows the movie's plot almost exactly although I remember there was an extra section of the book that included a scene from Frankenstein which as a kid was the coolest addition ever. Beyond that, the illustrations for this were gorgeous.
Maybe its just rose colored glasses tinting my look back at this, but The Pagemaster truly does feel like a special book. If you never see the movie, this book is a worthy substitute to offer to your own kids.
December 27, 2016
This is a book I bought and read to my son and I've always loved it. A little boy could get lost in the world of books if he falls right into the pages. The illustrations are delightful and the story delves into all the genres of books including adventure and horror. I think it's possible I loved this every bit as much when I read it to him as my son did. It's one that I will now re-read and enjoy all over again.
March 12, 2018
When I was 10-11 yrs old, I was so obsessed with this story and the illustrations. I showed it to my fifth grade teacher and she said something along the lines of "this is for people who truly care about literature". (Yep).
December 30, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Every 90's kid remembers this book, and the film adaptation with Macaulay Culkin. I still have an emotional nostalgic reaction whenever I think about this book or the film.
hashtag take me back.
Every 90's kid remembers this book, and the film adaptation with Macaulay Culkin. I still have an emotional nostalgic reaction whenever I think about this book or the film.
hashtag take me back.
June 6, 2019
Read this out loud to my children. Had a blast. A great book to do voice to.
March 17, 2018
Target audience: Eight to twelve year olds.
Summary: Richard Tyler is an overly cautious ten year old who, after getting picked on by some local kids because he is too timid to "catch air" on his bicycle, finds himself caught in a downpour when he seeks shelter in a big stone building situated in a nearby park. An empty library, he searches for a phone when he becomes lost in towering stacks of books and uncovers the Pagemaster, a fantastic wizard like being, who encourages him to become more courageous and to use books to make this possible.
Soon Richard is sent on a wild ride (on the back of a book cart) through genres: fantasy, horror and adventure. As the stories become alive to Richard, he is forced to face his deepest fears and he emerges a much stronger young man as a result. In the end he manages to ride his bike on the ramp and jump higher than the other kids, who look on with awe, and he winds up in his treehouse, reading adventure books until he falls asleep, safe and sound.
Strengths and weaknesses: This book had several strong points: something of a survey of multiple genres, very nicely illustrated, and a book that manages to promote reading to young readers, however, the book was admittedly somewhat derivative.
Personal critique: Pretty good overall, but not quite at the level of some of the other books reviewed here recently.
Illustrations: A picture book, excellent illustrations throughout tend to outshine the writing.
Summary: Richard Tyler is an overly cautious ten year old who, after getting picked on by some local kids because he is too timid to "catch air" on his bicycle, finds himself caught in a downpour when he seeks shelter in a big stone building situated in a nearby park. An empty library, he searches for a phone when he becomes lost in towering stacks of books and uncovers the Pagemaster, a fantastic wizard like being, who encourages him to become more courageous and to use books to make this possible.
Soon Richard is sent on a wild ride (on the back of a book cart) through genres: fantasy, horror and adventure. As the stories become alive to Richard, he is forced to face his deepest fears and he emerges a much stronger young man as a result. In the end he manages to ride his bike on the ramp and jump higher than the other kids, who look on with awe, and he winds up in his treehouse, reading adventure books until he falls asleep, safe and sound.
Strengths and weaknesses: This book had several strong points: something of a survey of multiple genres, very nicely illustrated, and a book that manages to promote reading to young readers, however, the book was admittedly somewhat derivative.
Personal critique: Pretty good overall, but not quite at the level of some of the other books reviewed here recently.
Illustrations: A picture book, excellent illustrations throughout tend to outshine the writing.
September 23, 2020
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's about a boy who is afraid of everything. And when I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING. He was on his way to the hardware store and a terrible storm hit. He had to find cover in the library. He slips and falls and ends up in a crazy adventure. This book explores different types of books. Fantasy, Adventure, and Horror. They reference a LOT of books that are well known and some that are not. If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend it. It's a fairly short read and if you like fantasy and adventure and horror, there's a good chance you will like this book!
Enjoy!
It's about a boy who is afraid of everything. And when I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING. He was on his way to the hardware store and a terrible storm hit. He had to find cover in the library. He slips and falls and ends up in a crazy adventure. This book explores different types of books. Fantasy, Adventure, and Horror. They reference a LOT of books that are well known and some that are not. If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend it. It's a fairly short read and if you like fantasy and adventure and horror, there's a good chance you will like this book!
Enjoy!
December 30, 2018
This was not what I was expecting. I thought it would be about a boy, 10-year-old Richard, who meets the "pagemaster" at the library and they have a mission to save people or some such story. The boy is timid and extremely afraid of things; he's focused on the possibility of being hurt or danger and he's taken it to an extreme. This adventure forces him to confront that fear. The backdrop is the library and re-discovering the wonder of the library. The companions Richard meets along the way are colorful and quite fun. An enjoyable read.
January 5, 2024
Leído en mi infancia y no he podido evitar reseñarlo cuando lo he visto. Llegó a mis manos exactamente con 10 años y me acuerdo perfectamente. Puedo asegurar que lo habré leído al menos 10 veces de niño y es de esos libros que leí a mi hijo cuando él era muy pequeño y él releyó cuando tuvo la suficiente edad y conocimiento. Puedo recordar casi con exactitud cada una de las escenas y lo bien que me lo pasaba acompañado de Aventura, Fantasía y Terror. Hoy por hoy no es más que un cuento infantil que recuerdo con mucho, muchísimo cariño, pero por lo que significó en su día para mí, no puedo dejar de darle 5 estrellacas bien gordas.
June 14, 2021
Het concept van het boek is geweldig: een jongen die terechtkomt in een bibliotheek en dan door de boeken meegenomen wordt in de fantasiewereld van grote klassiekers zoals Moby Dick en Schateiland. Als kind had ik dit fantastisch gevonden, als volwassene is er iets waardoor ik het boek toch niet top vindt en waar ik niet helemaal de vinger op kan leggen. De schrijfstijl misschien?
Al bij al een leuk boek dat tot de verbeelding spreekt.
Al bij al een leuk boek dat tot de verbeelding spreekt.
October 24, 2019
I read this shortly after it came out back in the 1990's. I mostly read it so I could promote it to the kids at my local schools who visited our library. Just a magical book! I fell in love with it and bought a copy for my family. The kids I book talked it to, enjoyed reading it as well. So much so, that some of the copies ended up missing! I always ordered more so more kids could enjoy it.
November 5, 2019
Such a cool story because it includes so many classic stories! Reading a book is the ultimate adventure! I adore the movie and thought it was super cool that they made a book based on it. I hope to read this to my kids someday...and every other book mentioned in its pages so they get all the references!
April 29, 2023
I just finished reading with book to/with my 7 year old. This is the first “big book” we’ve finished! We tried Charlotte’s Web, Matilda, Winnie the Pooh, and countless others but this is the first one that kept her interest night after night. She is so excited to watch the movie but she said she hopes the voices in the movie are as good as mine.
June 30, 2017
A shy, scared little boy finds adventure and confidence in a magical library. Magical library, adventure abundant within the stacks. Kicka$$ illustrations, Gaining a new outlook in the world we live in. What isn't there to love!?
October 10, 2018
Although I haven’t read this in two decades, it was one of my favorite books as a kid. I decided to read it for one of the prompts for the Charms Extra Credit portion of the Magical Readathon. All the wonderful feelings came flooding back and I just love this book so much.
February 8, 2020
I read this book in German when I was a kid, and I still remember the incredible illustrations and how it made me visit my library even more often. Highly recommended for people looking for books to read together with their children. Lovely illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews