Roger Is Reading a Book

Belgian artist Van Biesen’s fluid line, witty typography, and bits of photographic collage give this story an abundance of style. “Shhhh! Quiet. Roger is reading. Roger is reading a book,” Van Biesen begins while a studious fellow in a bow tie and a tweed cap sits on a stool in his apartment, perusing a small volume. The next page reveals his neighbor, a small girl in a violet dress with a butterfly perched on her head; the gutter of the book serves as the intervening wall between their apartments. “Boing Boing. Emily is playing. Emily is playing a game.” Emily bounces a basketball, whose multiple images convey the barrage of noise. He knocks on the wall grumpily, and the arms race continues as Emily switches to singing, drumming, juggling, ballet, and boxing. Roger’s frustration grows until he arrives at a tidy solution—a book for Emily. The comic escalation of Emily’s noisy pursuits, combined with delightfully unexpected details (Emily’s toy giraffe becomes a lamp as she reads into the night), add up to a beautifully crafted piece of work. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)