Reader, don't waste your time with this book. "You might as well stick it back on the shelf," the narrator warns. "Or toss it under your bed. You don't need to read it because it looks like nothing happens in this book." But, wait, he's spotted something. There's a trumpet without a trumpeter. And there's a tiny car without a driver. And a baton without a twirler. Maybe if you keep turning the pages, you'll find out who is missing these items. Maybe they are all together, getting ready to do something awesome. Maybe something amazing does happen in this book after all! The text and visual narrative work hand in hand in this playful, page-turning meta picture book, encouraging children to join in on the quest to find the seemingly missing story.
By speaking directly to readers, Judy Ann Sadler's intriguing story piques their curiosity, and award-winning Vigg's quirky, humorous illustrations slowly reveal hints about the story that allow readers to piece together the mystery before the narrator does. This book makes for an engaging read-aloud that invites enthusiastic audience participation. The question underlying all the fun --- what elements are needed for a story? --- couples nicely with classroom story-building and writing exercises. In a special touch, the busy parade at the end of the book appears on a gatefold spread.
