One Book Was All It Took

Wenda Shurety (author) and Amy Calautti (Illustrator)

EK Books: 2022

ISBN: 9781922539137

Age: 3+

Reviewed by Viv Young

When Violet searches for a new book to read she starts a chain reaction that delivers a whole library!

This humorous light-hearted ode to the local library is full of fun for kids. Through the comical illustrations and hints in the text, kids can follow the serendipitous chain of events that lead to the building of the library. This aspect of the story makes One Book Was All It Took a fun first book about actions and consequences with no didactic overtone. Violet’s interest in books and desire for a library also supports parents and teachers wanting to instil a love of literature in their young kids. 

The artwork for One Book Was All It Took uses lots of contrasting bright, clean colours. The cartoon style figures bend and stretch their way across the pages as they take part in the chain of events that lead to the building of the library and in this way create a lot of humour. The chain of events is only partly narrated, and readers need to look closely at the illustrations to put the different parts of the story together. This extra reader-work means that the theme of action-consequence is strong and fulfilling. Lastly, rainbows are used at key moments in the text. These are visually appealing and invite readers to ponder their symbolic meaning. For this reader the rainbow invoked the magic of reading and the excitement of discovering a new and favourite book.

On Book Was All It Took takes a fresh and funny approach to the familiar library and literacy theme. It also encourages young minds to think about the consequences of their actions in a light-hearted way.