Matt Porter (text), Dave Atze (illustrator), The Greatest Book in the World, Ford Street Publishing, February 2019, 32 pp., RRP $24.95 (hbk), ISBN 9781925804140
Rudolf Wordsmith is a soon-to-be-famous writer, but he just needs a little assistance with his rhyming from you, the reader. If you help him, you’ll be taken on a journey through many almost-rude-rhymes, which will have some young readers giggling helplessly as you read it aloud.
The Greatest Book in the World is clearly aimed at a younger audience with its focus on all things gross and rude. The conceit of a great story being written is lost quite quickly in the quest for ruder and ruder rhymes – something that younger readers won’t mind, but of which older readers might tire.
Atze adds illustrations that could be taken from a Saturday morning cartoon (do they still have those?) which add to the crass humour of each unfortunate event in the story.
Teachers could use this book to discuss and practice rhyming – although the silliness might just be too much for some.
Reviewed by Madeleine Crofts
