I was excited by the look and sound of this book. I don’t think it was as described, the pictures were bizarre photos that (on balance) I don’t think would interest children. Perhaps it’s a conceptual art book that I don’t understand. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.

I did not understand this book. At all. And it was classified as children’s?

Definitely not for me. I missed the point entirely

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

2.5 stars rounded to 3 stars.
The Book With No Story is a very quirky book for older children (I'd suggest aged 12+). The book is written with the aim of using creativity and letting your imagination run wild (the more bizarre the better from what I can tell). Each monster has a picture and a paragraph about them, but these were not what I expected. I thought they would be illustrated pictures, but they were mixed media mixed up art pictures, which were actually quite freaky and scary for children. I know my ten year old would have nightmares from some of these pictures. If buying this book online, I would look for photos of the inside of the book or look for a copy in a store so you can check it is suitable for the child you are purchasing it for. There's room for the reader to add their own drawings or information to each page and pages at the back for them to think up their own monsters along with questions to ask them. I was sadly let down by this book from what I had hoped it would be from the blurb.

What I expected from the title and blurb: Some unusual drawings/photos of creatures with space and/or prompts for kids to write short stories of ideas about who/what they were

What I actually got: some sort of fever dream?? The pictures are at best an acquired taste, and at worse nightmare inducing for kids. They already have stories attached to them explaining who/what the creature is, so what are the kids meant to add??

I was attracted to this book, and then fascinated by the fact it's getting 1*s on Netgalley and has a 5* on Goodreads...

I have no idea who this book is for, but please look through it before handing it to someone else, especially a child!

I received an advance copy for free from NetGalley, on the expectation that I would provide an honest review.

I'm not sure who the target audience is for this type of book. I'm not sure I know any children who would be drawn to this book, as it barely makes sense. Apologies I can't be any more enthusiastic about it, but I just didn't 'get' it.

When I saw this on NetGalley I knew I had to request it. In my head I had visions of beautiful descriptive passages that would take my breath away. In reality I was disappointed to find disjointed, poorly written, seemingly thrown together strings of words Not at all what I was expecting.

I’d expected something more whimsical if even childish. This was straight up nightmare fuel.

The images are of adult people but edited to be warped or disturbing. The descriptions mostly indicate the creations are benign, but I can’t get past the creepy pictures.

Not my thing.