Where Are My Books?
Written & Illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
.    Simon & Schuster BYR        5/12/2015
.                          .978-1-4424-6741-5
.                         .40 pages       Age 4—8

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.              ..“OH, NO!”
Spencer’s beloved books
HAVE!
GONE!
MISSING!
Someone is taking them.
But who could it be?
SOON HIS SHELVES
WILL BE EMPTY—
Unless Spencer
Can solve the mystery.
[front jacket]

The Story
Spencer loves no, he adores his books. Each night, Mom or Dad read him one of his favorites, usually Night-Night Narwhal. Spencer loves narwhal whales. One night Mom reads this to Spencer, kisses him goodnight, and soon Spencer his dreaming. But in the morning, there is a problem. A BIG problem—Night-Night Narwhal is GONE! Where could it have gone? And why is there a yellow flower were the book should be? Spencer meticulously organizes his picture books and this book should have been farthest to the right. But it’s gone. He looks everywhere, but sadly no book. That night, Dad reads Spencer Tenacious Todd.

“But Todd was a toad, and toads were amphibians, and amphibian books were supposed to be for right-after-lunch story time.”

The following morning Tenacious Todd goes missing. In its place is a screw. Then, one-by-one, more books go missing. Can Spencer figure out this mystery? Dad knows nothing. Mom knows nothing. This leaves one person. The only one left who could have, would have, taken his picture books. Spencer’s SISTER! She loves picture books even though she cannot read. So he approaches her,

“WHERE ARE MY BOOKS?”

Uh, oh. Mom makes Spencer join a picnic with his sister and her stuffed friends. Spencer is miserable. But if his sister did not take his books, and mom and dad don’t know where the books are, who keeps taking his books? How does this person get to his books before he wakes up? Well, Spencer has a plan. Will it work?

Review
I adore Where Are My Books? The story of Spencer and his missing books is full of heart and humor. Spencer accuses the most likely suspect earning him a picnic tea party with his little sister. Fed up, he devises a plan that almost costs him his stuffed Narwhal. Spencer’s devotion to his books and his love of reading—and being read to—should inspire young children to enjoy reading and to organize their own bookshelves, guarding them from an unusual book thief.

The digitally rendered illustrations are most definitely kid-friendly. There are small details, like the screws and tulips, which will catch the observant reader’s eye. (There is a wonderful poster in Spencer’s room.) Spencer is a cute young boy who loves his red narwhal pajamas. The culprit is just as cute and wears small spectacles while reading. The ending is not what you would expect, nor will kids figure it out early, but it does explain the small screws, nuts, and flowers left in place of each book. And Spencer makes a terrific deal that is satisfying for everyone, including the reader.

Kids will also learn a little about library rules when Spencer solves his missing books problem. Parents will enjoy reading Where Are My Books? multiple times, as will surely be requested of them. Parents will also appreciate Spencer and his sister’s blossoming relationship.

Where Are My Books? is one of those picture books your child will love for a long time. Those who love picture books, of any age, will adore Where Are My Books? Debbie Ridpath Ohi’s first solo picture book is a resounding hit. Do not miss Where Are My Books?—or let little book nuts take it away without permission or without leaving a tulip in its place.

WHERE ARE MY BOOKS? Text and illustrations copyright © 2015 by Debbie Ridpath Ohi. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York, NY.

Purchase Where Are My Books? at  Amazon—Book Depository—IndieBound Books—iTunes Books—Simon & Schuster.

Read an Interview with young Spencer HERE.

Learn more about Where Are My Books? HERE and HERE.
Find a Teacher’s Guide HERE.
How Where Are My Books? was Created is HERE.
Spencer’s Animal Facts are found HERE.

Downloadables!
“I Love My Library” Posters are HERE.
Activity Sheets—Bookmarks—Bookplates—Coloring Pages—Masks—Puppets are HERE.
” For The Love Of Reading” Activities are HERE.

Meet the author/illustrator, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, at her website:  http://debbieohi.com/
.            .Where Are My Books? Facebook Page is HERE.
Find more picture books at the Simon & Schuster website:  http://www.simonandschuster.com/kids
.            .Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing

Also by Debbie Ridpath Ohi, as Illustrator
I’m Bored by Michael Ian Black
Naked! by Michael Ian Black
Judy Blume:
.     .Freckle Juice
.     .The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo
.     .The Pain and the Great One

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Copyright © 2015 by Sue Morris/Kid Lit Reviews. All Rights Reserved

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Full Disclosure: Where Are My Books? by Debbie Ridpath Ohi, and received from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing), is in exchange NOT for a positive review, but for an HONEST review. The opinions expressed are my own and no one else’s. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”