Review Detail

‘This Book Is Not a Present’ by Max Greenfield, illustrated by Mike Lowery, is a funny story, perfect for readers who love silliness, in the vein of ‘The Book with No Pictures’ by B.J. Novak. The narrator of the book is adamant and wants readers to know that despite the bow on the cover of the book, it is not, in fact, a present, and he takes great offense to the idea that it could possibly be one. After all, a present is something more like a dog, or a skateboard, or anything other than a book, which shouldn’t be given out and called a present under any circumstances whatsoever.

The narrator discusses with readers what a present is, what he wishes he could do, how his life would be different if things would go more his way, and so much more, all while complaining in what is clearly a funny way. His annoyance is the perfect fodder for readers to laugh themselves silly about the ridiculousness of the narrator being so upset about a book as a present.

The illustrations are cartoonish and colorful, representing the narrator’s feelings on a variety of subject matters. All in all, a fun, thoroughly enjoyable, creative story for kids who don’t love reading, but might just find that they liked this book, and therefore maybe reading is not something they mind quite as much as they once thought. If anyone hasn’t read ‘I Don’t Want to Read This Book,’ Max Greenfield’s book that came out before this one, this definitely will pique any reader’s interest.