Opening with a blank page, this meta-fictional picture-book from author/illustrator Marianna Coppo highlights the two different approaches taken to the situation by the animal characters which begin to appear on the page. Four of them wait around for the story to appear, but the fifth, a little pink bunny who wants to play, begins to construct a story of his own. Eventually, his creation draws the others in, and when a story finally does arrive, the animals declare that they already have one of their own...

Apparently inspired (at least partially) by the play, Waiting for Godot, A Very Late Story pairs an engaging text, comprised solely of dialogue, and colorful, appealing artwork. The blankness of the pages at the beginning of the book, save for the characters themselves, emphasizes the absence of any supporting story. By the end of the book, however, the pages are full of color (until everything resets), as the characters build up a narrative of fun and play. Recommended to readers with a taste for meta-fictional tales in which the characters are aware of their role in the story, and of their audience. ( )