The Book That Almost Rhymed

Author Omar Abed
Illustrated by Hatem Aly
Look inside
$18.99 US
Penguin Young Readers | Dial Books
24 per carton
On sale Mar 26, 2024 | 978-0-593-40638-0
Age 3-7 years
Reading Level: Lexile AD510L | Fountas & Pinnell M
Sales rights: World
Every great adventure needs a hero—or two! This playful take on storytelling and equity proves that two tellers can make a rhyming tale twice as nice.

What do you do with an interrupting sibling? Especially when she's stepping all over your story with wild ideas that don’t. Even. Rhyme. Knights riding rockets? Dancing pirates? Who’s ever heard of a fire-breathing armadillo?! But when this big brother realizes his sister just might be improving his yarn—and doing it with an impressive surprise of her own—it's clear what you do with an interrupting sibling. You share the narrative! Turns out adventure is way more fun when you build it together, rhyme by daring rhyme.

"Sure to amuse." Booklist (starred review)
"Immensely creative . . . Exciting."BookPage (starred review)
"Riotous."Kirkus
"Hilarious . . . Such a funny read-aloud." —Book Riot
"Sprightly . . . Energetic."Publishers Weekly
"Funny throughout." —The Horn Book
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"[Kids will] enjoy the silliness [and] the chaos that springs from each unexpected plot twist. . . . Vivid, expressive illustrations capture the characters’ shifting emotions, while creating lively backdrops . . . Sure to amuse." —Booklist (starred review)

"Immensely creative . . . Exciting [and] intricate." —BookPage (starred review)

“Riotous . . . Readers will appreciate these rollicking rhymes and laugh at the sister’s out-there ideas. The comical digital illustrations will elicit chuckles. . . . Readers will have a fine time [and] won’t be averse to the verse.” —Kirkus

"Funny throughout . . . but the real payoff comes with a revelation at the end, which will likely prompt readers to go back and look more closely." —The Horn Book

"Omar Abed’s rhyming prowess propels this sprightly picture book that follows two siblings jointly composing an adventure, [with] energetic digital renderings [by Hatem Aly]." —Publishers Weekly

"This hilarious picture book . . . has a surprise twist that shows the younger sister is just as adept at wordplay as her older sibling. This is such a funny read-aloud . . . A great addition." —Book Riot

About

Every great adventure needs a hero—or two! This playful take on storytelling and equity proves that two tellers can make a rhyming tale twice as nice.

What do you do with an interrupting sibling? Especially when she's stepping all over your story with wild ideas that don’t. Even. Rhyme. Knights riding rockets? Dancing pirates? Who’s ever heard of a fire-breathing armadillo?! But when this big brother realizes his sister just might be improving his yarn—and doing it with an impressive surprise of her own—it's clear what you do with an interrupting sibling. You share the narrative! Turns out adventure is way more fun when you build it together, rhyme by daring rhyme.

"Sure to amuse." Booklist (starred review)
"Immensely creative . . . Exciting."BookPage (starred review)
"Riotous."Kirkus
"Hilarious . . . Such a funny read-aloud." —Book Riot
"Sprightly . . . Energetic."Publishers Weekly
"Funny throughout." —The Horn Book

Photos

additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo

Praise

"[Kids will] enjoy the silliness [and] the chaos that springs from each unexpected plot twist. . . . Vivid, expressive illustrations capture the characters’ shifting emotions, while creating lively backdrops . . . Sure to amuse." —Booklist (starred review)

"Immensely creative . . . Exciting [and] intricate." —BookPage (starred review)

“Riotous . . . Readers will appreciate these rollicking rhymes and laugh at the sister’s out-there ideas. The comical digital illustrations will elicit chuckles. . . . Readers will have a fine time [and] won’t be averse to the verse.” —Kirkus

"Funny throughout . . . but the real payoff comes with a revelation at the end, which will likely prompt readers to go back and look more closely." —The Horn Book

"Omar Abed’s rhyming prowess propels this sprightly picture book that follows two siblings jointly composing an adventure, [with] energetic digital renderings [by Hatem Aly]." —Publishers Weekly

"This hilarious picture book . . . has a surprise twist that shows the younger sister is just as adept at wordplay as her older sibling. This is such a funny read-aloud . . . A great addition." —Book Riot