I was very pleased to have the opportunity to review this book. In “No Reading Allowed: The Worst Read-Aloud Book Ever” you’ll find a word-nerd paradise! On the cover is a very small taste of what is found within. Just in case you missed it: No reading allowed versus No reading aloud. As the title expresses, it is not fit to be an audio book.
While homophones and homonyms run rampant in this book that elicits quite a few laughs, the authors, Raj Haldar and Chris Carpenter, also prove that punctuation matters. The complexity and absurdity of the English language is boldly displayed on each of the 48 pages. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the creative genius depicted in the illustrations. Reminiscent of the Sunday comics, the artistic style is a sophisticated mix of “The Far Side” and “Calvin and Hobbes.”
What makes this book even more brilliant is that the authors included a glossary of the common and not-so-common words found in the smartly worded, laugh-out-loud book. This would be a perfect gift for anyone who enjoys words, the English language, and laughing… there’s a lot of laughing. This is an appropriate book for ages 7 and older, and would be a wonderful addition to a home or school library. Be sure to also check out this book’s predecessor, “‘P’ is for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever” as it also shines a spotlight on the dysfunctional function of the English language.