This Book Is Not for You!

Written by Shannon Hale · Illustrated by Tracy Subisak

A boy challenges book stereotypes, seeking a pirate adventure tale.

4.0 Goodreads · 484 ratings

40 pages· 875 words· Est. 7 min read-aloud· AD600L

$18.99Save 7%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Stanley eagerly awaits bookmobile day, but faces a setback when denied a book about a girl adventurer. The book man insists on gendered reading, but a dinosaur's bold request for a pony book inspires Stanley. He bravely asks for the story he truly desires, sparking a revolution among readers of all kinds—people, cats, robots, and goats. Will Stanley's courage change the way they all see books? Dive into this whimsical tale where boundaries are broken, and the joy of reading knows no limits.

From the publisher

From New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor-winning author Shannon Hale and award-winning illustrator Tracy Subisak, comes a zany picture book that pokes fun at overly gendered notions of boy books and girl books and celebrates the pleasure of a good book. Stanley’s thrilled for bookmobile day–until the old man at the window refuses to lend him the story he wants, all because it features a girl. “Girl books” are only for girls, the book man insists, just like cat books are only for cats and robot books are only for robots. But when a dinosaur arrives at the bookmobile and successfully demands a book about ponies, Stanley musters the courage to ask for the tale he really wants–about a girl adventurer fighting pirates on the open seas. By speaking up, Stanley inspires the people, cats, robots, and goats around him to read more stories outside their experiences and enjoy the pleasure of a good book of their choosing.

At a glance