This book is such a lovely ode to story.

A little girl with nothing to do but head to the library with her mom. She doesn't like reading and doesn't want to go.

Until....

A story grabs her attention and her heart. She is drawn in to the magic and the beauty of story. It changes and brightens her world.

And when it's over? She needs another.

My kids love book and saw their own book loving selves in the character (after she fell in love with books). The illustrations are magical and each of my kids was pointing out little details in them.

I loved how this reluctant reader was taken on a colorful journey of disliking books to finding their magic. The way the creator used color and font changes was brilliant. I’ll use this book to teaching model writing lessons.

A nameless heroine starts this fun picture book with a lament about having her summer vacation spoiled by a teacher who suggests that each student read a book over the summer. The nameless heroine complains she doesn't like books and her mother takes her to the library where the mother suggests a book that she read as a girl. The heroine enjoys the book and looks for another. It's a fun story to read and the illustrations are nice.

Fantastic story about a little girl who isn't interested in books until she reads a book -- unwillingly! -- and becomes hooked on the story. This has gorgeous illustrations and the colors reflect what is happening in the story; in the beginning, there aren't many colors, but things become bright as her imagination awakens. When she is at a dangerous part of the story, the colors are dark.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for letting me read this

This had a gorgeous, unique art style and I think it is a great book for those children who aren’t quite sold on the reading bug! A story within a story that shows the magic of a good book and promotes libraries- what’s not to love!

Cute book about a young girl who is not interested in reading books - her mom takes her to the library and suggests a story for her and that’s when the magic begins. As a book lover from a young age, the message of this book was close to my heart.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for review!

Nobody is ever too old for a picture book!! As a middle school teacher, my favorite thing to do is get kids on the floor at the front of the room to read a book together. Mariajo Ilustrajo's "The Spell of a Story" is a great book to get reluctant readers hooked on the idea of finding their perfect book. The illustrations combined with the plot of this picture book give me the warm fuzzies. I can't wait to purchase this book on publication day and read it to my 8th grade students.

One of my new favorite kids' books. The illustrations are just so incredibly gorgeous -- ones that make you want to sit and look at all the little fascinating details forever -- and that's to say nothing of the amazing story of a child becoming enthralled with the adventure of reading. Brilliantly done!

A book about the love of reading and the magic of getting enchanted by a story. A great book to read with kids who are just starting out on their reading journey. As a life long book lover this really spoke to me. Well written, engaging and fun illustrations.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book made me so happy! At first I did not relate to our unnamed protagonist at all, because even as a kid, I loved to read, but seeing her fall under the spell of just the right gateway book was so awesome. As a teacher, I always hope that if I can turn a student on to just the right story, they might become people who love to read, so seeing that story play out was very satisfying!

A children’s book that opens up to the love of reading.

Taking a young child on a journey from “I hate books” to becoming beguiled, via a library visit, to fall under the spell of reading. This notion, that books can be fun and reading can become a passion is wonderfully told and the reluctant reader is easily identified.

What marks the book out for me is how the “journey” into literacy is depicted. The young girl appears to fall into the book she is reading - but in fact is an illustration of just how a book can turn you into a bibliophile simply by opening to the first page.

Creative writing here re-imagines a strange new world similar to the best fantasy map you can envisage.

Love this author from reading an earlier book, Flooded, this only cements her reputation for me and the illustrations are full of fun and varied scenarios that build the adventure and make it a truly memorable story.

I didn’t find reading fun as a child; mostly it grew into a fear if ever I was asked to read aloud in class. Books set by school to read at home were completed only through my mother reading them to me; even when I was of an age to read and enjoy it in my own head. But Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn came alive as my Mum read those pages to me.
Glandular fever in my later teens was my admission into books and I have read for pleasure ever since. Don’t under estimate the value of books, take for granted libraries or assume a child will love reading.

This cute story tics all the hallmarks of a good children's book. The illustrations are engaging and draw the viewer into the story. A young child finds out at the end of the school year that she must read a whole book before school starts in the fall. Dismayed at this assignment, she finds herself dragged to the library by her mother. Mom wisely selects a book she loved as a child and within days the whole summer opens up, powered by the stories that unfold. The illustrations start in black and white, but once our main character gets pulled into the first story, the pages explode with color. This book is every librarian's dream.

This was incredibly cute and I think that children who reads this or have this read to them will have much to think about and learn to enjoying reading themselves. Books mean adventure, and this would be a great intoduction to reading!

New fear unlocked: what if my kid does not naturally like reading books? The Spell of a Story is as much a parenting lesson as it is a beautiful story about kids falling in love with stories for the first time. As they say, if you are not a reader, you just haven't found the right book yet"

I loved this book - as someone who always found solace in books as a child, it was so heartwarming to see this story (illustrations are a big Win!)

The Spell of a Story by Mariajo Illustrajo is the story of a young girl who is rejoicing in her last day of school and a summer with no books when her teacher announces that they are expected to read one book that summer. Her mother takes her to the library and recommends a book that she enjoyed at the same age. When the little girl begins the book she finds herself changed by the spell of a story. This is an engaging tale with charming illustrations and extra dialog to read. This would be a great book to read to reluctant readers. It might not sell them on reading but could be a launching point to further discussion on the subject. I would definitely read this book to my neice. I am voluntarily writing this honest review after reading an advanced complementary copy of this book thanks to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books.

An absolute gem of a children’s book.

This is the story of falling in love with reading and the “spell” of being drawn into the pages of a book. The art style is fitting and approachable, and so very cute. I adored how the story captures the inevitable draw and sparkle of reading, and how one simple book is all it takes to launch a child’s reading habit. And above all, this is inspiring for parents and children, and a great option for “reading time” or family bonding, especially for the reluctant child.

I work with children and can see this doing well, especially as part of a “reach out and read” or similar program.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this eARC.

The Spell of a Story
by Mariajo Ilustrajo
I am glad the author changed the title of the book, the spell of a story is part of the story. A summer assignment of reading had a problematic history with students. It helps continue practices and learning through out the year, tempering the loss of learning during the break. The connections that children and their family can make is important. Allowing the students to pick the book is helpful. This book shows with the right book Children can make a connection. Providing a suggestion, but not limitation book list may help students.

The Spell of a Story is about a child who is finally off for summer vacation, but must read a book... and she hates reading books.

This is an enchanting story about how the right book can change your whole outlook and reading can be fun. If you have a child who struggles to read, or won't give reading a chance dor whatever reason, then this book is for you. I absolutely loved this and it is so relevant to younger kiddos. I cannot wait to purchase this once it is released because it will be a frequent read in our house.

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

The Spell of a Story may be one of my new favorite children's books. It features a child who is so disappointed that their teacher suggested reading a book over the summer. They go to the library and their mom chooses a book she had read as a kid. Once the child begins reading, they are captivated and their world transforms into the world of the story. Just like many humans, they read and read until they finish and couldn't put the book down the whole time. Books that promote literacy are so so important for our children today, and The Spell of a Story is sure to put a spell on many kids out there!

Fabulous! What a brilliant book to encourage readers to get reading and to use the library!
The illustrations are beautiful, of course they are, they are by Mariajo Ilustrajo and the story is a delight, I will be recommending this families far and wide.