Thank you Netgalley and Capstone Editions for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

A sweet story about one of my favorite activities: reading with my kids at bedtime. Shailey and her dad love to read before bedtime too. Then her dad gets a new job and doesn't have as much time or energy for reading. Shailey begins the search for a new bedtime storyteller but can she find someone as perfect for her as her dad?

Although not a #ownvoices author, I was pleased to see a routine book not whitewashed. A story that so many kids will identify with, parents having no time for their traditions due to work schedule. This book is a great way to start a conversation with your own child, or in a group setting about their feelings around parents working and/or feeling ignored.

The text is funny and the author uses a lot of great words to help build vocabulary. Narrative skills and print motivation are also supported through the use of familiar fairy tales that will engage the listeners outside of the story to draw on their outside experiences of other books.

The simple, illustrations capture the spirit of the book well, and add a lot to the narrative.

The best part is her signs and the resumes at the end of the book. Sure to be a favorite read aloud for families.

Illustrations: ★★★★★
I adore the cover so much! And the illustrations of the book really displayed the best colors and style to compliment the book.

Character Development:★★★★★
It did not go unnoticed that there were characters from the classic fairy tales and I absolutely loved it. My favorite appearance was Goldilocks and Cinderella. I appreciated the background emphasis on no-technology/distraction during story time.

Flow of the Story:★★★★★
Amazing balance and flow. What all children’s book authors should strive to create.

Font: ★★★★★
Great choice of font.

Overall: If I saw this book on sale at my hometown bookstore I would buy it and add it to my forever-library. This story made my inner-child happy and nostalgic thinking back to bedtime stories with my father. Courtney and Janet work so in sync that they deliver a story any child will love to listen to before bedtime.

This was a real surprise, and great fun. When a young girl gets fed up with her father being too busy for her nightly fairy tale, she advertises the post as a vacancy – but could never predict what and who turns up as a result. I had no idea it was going to take the path it did, so actually think the blurb and back cover art give the game away unnecessarily. It's an obvious trick for the story to use, however – but the cleverness in the script is that it only refers to the situations and characters that the illustrations clarify, so we know who all these people are even if we're never directly told their identity. For a debut picture book, then, this author has shown a great potential, and the art is witty, bright and everything needed for the target audience. Plus, the family involved have been made to look Afro-American, so the book looks all inclusive, too. That would count for nothing if it wasn't fun, but it really was. I can see this getting multiple reads – especially at a certain time of evening...

My daughter and I both enjoyed this book. It had such cute illustrations, with lots of her favorite characters' included. There was the gingerbread man who made an appearance, along with Snow White and her "seven bodyguards", then came along a very sleepy princess whom we all probably know. The list goes on, when it comes to finding Shailey's new reading partner.

The only thing (well, maybe two things) that might have kept me from giving it that last star, would have to be how it's made the dad look. I doubt it should feel like he's not the best parent for being too tired, after working tiresomely every day, to read every night. That, and a bit of how some of the requirements were changed around after having visits from a few unique beings.

Like I said, just a few minor pet peeves, that could mostly be placed aside, because to a child it might not seem like that at all. My daughter didn't mind it one bit, as it brought the story full circle with the dad becoming her reading partner once again. And, I do have to say that seeing all of those classic fairy tale characters on those pages made me nostalgic for the classics. Cute book overall!

***I received this copy from Capstone via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***

I am in LOVE! This is my new favorite book and want to gift it to everyone I know! I immediately connected with the main character who loved her pajamas and reading books until her eyelids closed, but then she started looking for a bedtime storyteller and the book just opened up on a whole new level. Every page had me giggling and completely understanding where Shailley was coming from. The end pages with the personal statements of some of the applicants was just hilarious. This should be on immediate preorder for everyone!

I love everything about this book! 🙌🏽

The illustrations, the storyline, the integration of well-known book characters…it has all of the elements to make your book-loving heart smile.

Help Wanted, Must Love Books tells the tale of a girl named Shailey who LOVES reading books with her dad. They snuggle together every night and read until Shailey’s eyes can take no more. Bedtime is perfect. Until one day, dad gets a new job and his priorities shift.

What’s a booklover to do?

Start interviewing potential readers, that’s what!

Help Wanted, Must Love Books is a perfect read for 2nd and 3rd graders studying problem/solution, descriptive writing, and cause/effect!

✍🏻 Author: Janet Summer Johnson @janetsumnerjohnson
👩🏻‍🎨 Illustrator: Courtney Dawson
📚 Publisher: Capstone @capstone_pub
📆 Publication Date: March 2, 2020

I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cute illustrations in this book. I was drawn to this book because of the title. Help wanted, must love books. Sounds like my kind of job. This little really wants her dad to read a story to her. When he is unable she uses her imagination and creates fairy tale characters to read to her

This was a cute story with lovely artwork and great diversity in the main character and her father. However, I didn't love it as much as I hoped, as the inclusion of the fairytale characters felt a little random. I'd read more from this writer and illustrator though.

I am absolutely in love with this adorable book! Why do I have to wait so long to own a physical copy??? 😩 

Help Wanted: Must Love Books is about a girl who is looking for someone to read her bedtime stories. She meets a variety of fairytale characters who seem up for the job... until they don't. I laughed-out-loud so much I had tears in my eyes reading this story. It was wonderful. I loved the brightly colored illustrations as well. The job resumes at the end of the story were a perfect addition. 📝📚💕

Thank you to Netgalley and Capstone for providing me with a review copy!

What a clever book! The ever expanding job requirement list after several mishaps is so cute and the resumes at the end are the perfect addition to this story. Will young children understand them, probably not, but they're a real treat for the adults. Looking forward to seeing more from this author.

A very sweet story with cute and charming characters and beautiful illustrations. Perfect for betime.

This book is adorable. It’s simple, but has a meaningful message. It’s also unique and tasteful. Highly recommend!

When Shailey’s dad gets a new job, it takes over reading at bedtime. So, in doing what she must, Shailey sets up interviews to hire a potential new bedtime story teller.

This was such a joyous book to read. As an adult reading this book, I enjoyed the puns, the hilarious references to fairy tale creatures, and the fairy tale résumés at the back.

The artwork was so gorgeous, and so simple in its beauty.

I think that this is possibly a story that many kids with working parents or caregivers would be able to relate to, as well.

I can see any young child finding enjoyment in this story.

Help Wanted, Must Love Books is a delightful tale about a girl who loves bedtime stories with her dad. When he isn’t able to read to her, she must find a new bedtime story reader. I love the creative applicants the author came up with. It was so cute and funny! The illustrator’s art added to the cuteness. Thank you to Capstone and Netgalley, for this proof. I will be linking more reviews to come!

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley.

This book is delightful. As an early lover of books, even as an adult I can related well to the seriousness Shailey regards bedtime stories. I was as serious or maybe even more. Shailey's idea to create a job posting to replace her dad is hilarious and reveals how very intelligent she is. The many applicants with the strength and weaknesses of their reading style make for a very entertaining book. I also loved the detail of the resumes. The illustrations style is perfect for the story

I loved this book and think it will be well received at our library. The illustrations were fun and playful while the characters were exactly how you'd imagine them with Sleeping Beauty falling asleep and Goldilocks stealing the bed. While I adore this story, my favorite part was the resumes at the end of the book. I could see how a parent could find this book to be shaming working parents but as a parent who works and has been fired from storytime a time or three I would agree with the dad that sometimes we let life get in the way and it's amazing the problem solving skills of our kiddos! I definitely recommend this title for your picture book collection and your bedtime stories.

A sweet and funny read that both kids and adults will enjoy.
A solid story, great illustrations, and a host of fun characters make this a must for anyone's picture book shelf. The resumes at the end were a perfect and adorable touch. I'm looking forward to more from this author.

I loved this picture book and, more importantly, so did my daughter. I thought the help wanted sign was cute and all the add-ons to it silly. My daughter loved naming all of the book characters that came and answered Shailey’s help wanted ad. And of course we both loved the ending.

This is a fun little bedtime story with wonderful art and great characters. Any little one would be happy to add this to their personal library.

Help Wanted: Must Love Books is due for release on March 2, 2020. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The story has a strong beginning. I was very interested in the little girl and her dad, but I didn't find a need to include the fairy tale characters. I surmise these characters were who she was reading about perhaps? Personally, I would've found her toys to be the first replacements and not random storybook characters. The good: I'm glad it was a dad and daughter. I'm glad for the diversity. The bad: His getting a new job and putting his devices away as his daughter's rule detracted from the story. I just wanted to hear about a loving dad and his daughter. Period.