Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Rosenthal is a marvel. She's a publisher's dream, a rare writer who can appeal to both adults and kids. How does she captivate multiple demographics? Simple. She takes us all to school. It's been a decade since her alphabetized memoir, Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life (2005), proved that she is a talented storyteller with an experimental flair for formatting: it is an actual encyclopedia. Now she's returned with more wonderful tales from her life that are equally aspirational and relatable. Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal is just that, a textbook, albeit for adults. It's organized as your local guidance counselor would prefer, by subject (geography, history, math), and there is a pre-test and post-test as well. In addition, it is a text-friendly book in which the author invites readers to play the home version and text along at appointed times. This engaging, playful, and clever glimpse into one woman's life offers lots of photographs, graphic illustrations, and diagrams, resulting in a book that will make readers smile as their notions of story-delivery expand.--Paloutzian, Andie Copyright 2016 Booklist

In today's digital age, with its ever mounting distractions, Rosenthal's (Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life) newest work offers some optimism for how reflection, curiosity, and imagination can be sustained. A testament to the notion that books and technology don't have to be at odds, this part memoir, part art installation offers a series of vignettes (personal anecdotes, observations, drawings, and photographs) divided into different subjects reminiscent of a high school "textbook." Yet, as Rosenthal poses questions and encourages readers to respond via text messaging, it is also a "text book." The author collects and shares outside contributions on her website, extending the conversation beyond the book. More than an intriguing concept, it is an artful arrangement of image and text and a compelling read. An abundant use of white space reveals that Rosenthal is unafraid to take breaths between thoughts. In doing so, she gives her audience the same generous opportunity, pairing the best of what print and digital have to offer: narrative for contemplation and online interaction for community. VERDICT Readers will want to return to this book again and also share it with those they love best. [See Prepub Alert, 2/8/16.]-Meagan Lacy, Guttman Community Coll., CUNY © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.