I love Books!

I was browsing the bookstore the other day (a lot of my posts start like that, don’t they?) when I came across the bold & beautiful cover for Books! by Murray McCain and John Alcorn. I couldn’t resist reading it from cover to cover and immediately bought myself a copy. I also made a mental note to buy this book for all the kids I know because that seems like the perfect way to ensure that the next generation includes at least a few book nerds.

I also discovered that Books! was originally published in 1962 and was a New York Times Book of the Year. The version I saw and read in the store was actually the gorgeous re-release published by AMMO Books, who also publish a slew of other beautiful books for both kids and adults.

The original Books! jacket copy gives you a pretty good idea of the feel of the book:

This is a one-of-a-kind: A wonderful book for children and grown-ups about Books, how books are made, what they do, what people do with them. It is called Books! Flip through it and you will see why it is likely to turn children into book lovers and parents into Books! lovers. Get Books! Keep Books! Give Books!

This first edition I found on eBay is pretty great, but the new version of Books! uses pretty fluorescent colours and doesn’t cost $125. Either way, this book is incredible. And since I believe that the best way to show your love for a great book is to share it with others, that’s exactly what I’m doing here. Pick up a copy of Books!. You won’t regret it.