Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Krawczyk
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Beautiful, vibrant celebration of imagination and stories.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In ONCE UPON A BOOK, Alice is tired of the gloomy weather and being stuck inside. She tells her mother that she wishes she could be someplace else. As Alice stomps away, she notices a book. She opens the book to a page of tropical birds who invite her to join them in the forest. And she does. When it starts raining, Alice once again wishes to be someplace else. She turns the page and is invited to join camels in the desert. As the story continues, Alice visits various environments and continues to want to be elsewhere. Her dress blends into the background of each environment, as Alice moves from rainforest to desert to sea and beyond. Will Alice find at the end of of the book and her adventures a place where she really wants to be?
Is It Any Good?
This beautifully illustrated picture book is a celebration of books and imagination. In Once Upon a Story, readers -- just like Alice -- will find their moods lifted by the power of reading and stories. There's so much to enjoy and savor in this book. Rhythmic text and repeated phrases along with complex, vibrant illustrations make it a joy to read aloud and share repeatedly. Alice's adventures in various environments will spark readers' curiosity. Readers will also enjoy the details in the illustrations, including the way Alice's dress blends into each environment. They can look for the white rabbit on each page, along with the main character's name, a hat tip to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Alice visits different environments in Once Upon a Book. Which would you choose to visit -- rainforest, desert, ocean, sky, or space? Why?
Alice reads and imagines herself inside a book. If you could go inside a book, which one would you choose? What would you see there?
What's your favorite illustration in the book? Why do you like it?
Book Details
- Authors: Grace Lin , Kate Messner
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Great Girl Role Models , Ocean Creatures , Wild Animals
- Character Strengths: Curiosity
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Little Brown and Company
- Publication date: February 7, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 40
- Available on: Hardback
- Awards: ALA Best and Notable Books , Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: June 20, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
What to Read Next
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate