PICTURE BOOK REVIEW & AUTHOR INTERVIEW: I Want to Read ALL the Books by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
ABOUT THE BOOK
An insatiably curious girl decides the only way to answer all her questions is to read all the books in this funny and charming picture book in the spirit of The Library Fish and Tom Chapin’s The Library Book.Hana wants to know everything about the world around her. When she starts asking questions, her mother gives her a book. She learns so much, but now she has even more questions! She also has a big she will read all the books—every single one! She reads every book in her house…and then her friends’ houses…and then the whole block. Nonfiction, fiction, romance, mysteries, and science fiction. But when her mother takes her to the downtown library, she realizes there are a lot more books than she thought…way more. Maybe she can’t really read all the books—now what?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR
Debbie Ridpath Ohi’s writing or art has appeared in over twenty books for young people. She is the award-winning author and illustrator of Where Are My Books?, I Want to Read ALL the Books, and Sam & Eva with Simon & Schuster. Her illustrations appear in books by Judy Blume, Michael Ian Black, and Linda Sue Park, among others. Debbie lives with her husband in Toronto, Canada. For more info, see DebbieOhi.com.
INTERVIEW With DEBBIE RIDPATH OHI
Q. What is the 'story behind the story’?
As a little kid who was constantly reading, I remember thinking that at some point, I would have read ALL the books, and how cool would that be?
Fast forward to me as a grown-up, where I am still an avid reader but have both a “To Be Read” pile and a “Want To Read Someday” list that are way too long. On social media, I started posting drawings of angsty-looking readers surrounded by books with a handwritten message “I Want To Read All The Books.”
One of the times I did this, agent Brenda Bowen suggested that I turn this mantra into a book. I thought this was a fun idea! First, though, I needed a story.
I took my time brainstorming, writing, and rewriting the story bones to add some depth. I had the most challenge with the ending: When Hana finally realizes that she will never be able to achieve her goal of reading all the books, what should she do?
My editor Justin Chanda at Simon & Schuster suggested a book club, and I loved that idea.
Q. If I could travel anywhere, I would go ….
Dictionopolis, one of the kingdoms in The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, where words grow on trees and can be eaten. I love the idea of edible words!
Q. Reading is ….
Reading is a secret doorway to other worlds. It’s not-so-secret in that anyone can pick up a book, of course. But the reading experience is different for every person. Whenever each one of us opens a book and starts reading, what we get out of it depends so much on our own knowledge and experiences, as well as mindset and the book itself.
Reading gives us a glimpse into how other people live, and this in turn helps us better understand not only other cultures and perspectives, but also ourselves.
Q. What has your writing journey been like?
Every picture book writer works differently. Here’s a summary of my writing process for I Want To Read ALL The Books:
Come up with the idea, think it’s brilliant.
Force myself NOT to start writing right away. Set it aside to marinate.
A few weeks later, take it out and make a few notes. Set it aside again and work on other things.
A while later, pull it out again. I still like the idea, but still looking for the right story.
Write the first draft, not worrying about the exact wording but more to figure out pacing. Struggle with the ending.
Write multiple drafts. Many rewrites. Alternate between feelings of inadequacy and delight.
Send the latest draft to my critique partners. They agree that something isn’t working.
I reach out to my editor (Justin Chanda) at Simon & Schuster for help.
Justin helps me find the heart of my story. I love my editor!
More revisions.
When Justin and I are both happy with the text, it’s time to start the art. At that point, I start working with (the brilliant) Laurent Linn, art director at Simon & Schuster Children’s.
Q. What are you currently working on?
I’m illustrating a fun story from Michael Ian Black called I’m Busy. It’s the latest in our series about kids’ emotions, which already includes I‘m Bored, I’m Sad, I’m Worried, and I’m Sorry.
I also have two middle grade projects on the go: one is a spooky mystery that involves Japanese yokai, and the other is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel.
Plus I’m super-excited about the launch of my new solo picture book, I Want To Read ALL The Books, which comes out on Sept. 17, 2024 from Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers!
Thanks to Debbie Ridpath Ohi for answering my questions! And thanks to the publisher for providing the images.
REVIEW
Hana's love of books and thirst for answers to her questions makes for a delightful read. Young readers who love to read will immediately feel a kinship to Hana and her desire to read every book she can. She devours her own books, then her brothers, her friends, and even the neighbors. Then her mom takes her to the bookstore where she wants to buy every book available (sounds familiar). Naturally, a local library is the next stop before she visits the big city library. But is it really possible to read ALL the books in the world? What will Hana do if she can't? The themes of this book will ring true for any true book aficionado. There is always going to be more books to read. But as many readers have discovered, there are other ways to nurture and fill that passion for books. The colorful, appealing art beautifully compliments this homage to true book lovers and the age old problem of not enough time and energy to absorb all the knowledge and stories to be found in books. Highly recommended for readers with an unending thirst for books.
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