Don't Push the Button!

I remember when the first don’t push the button came out. I was reading it with my three-year-old nephew on my iPad, so when he pushed the button the page would change and things would magically happen. The push the button books are about the only time I have found this style of book that can live up to Press Here. So I have a bit of nostalgia in my heart for this series. Don’t push the button on the farm was super cute and just as addictive as the original title. I only wish it had gone on longer. Change from a chicken into a cow or into a duck or Into a goose. We could’ve had a few more pages. But this short sweet, very interactive book will be loved by children whether read as a go to bed book or read and story time.

Larry the monster invites readers to his book with one stipulation: Don't push the bright red round button! But with the button prominently featured on every page, readers (and Larry himself) are too tempted to touch the button, and the results are disastrous/hilarious.

This book is the vein of Herve Tullet's Press Here and other titles. It lacks a real plot, is light on text, and even the illustrations are sparse. But with its call for interaction on the part of the reader and its humorous results, small children are bound to love it.

The title of this book alone made me pick it up and begin to wonder. The title is Don’t Push the Button. It made me wonder why I couldn’t push the button and what was so bad about pushing the button. I enjoyed reading this book and seeing what happened when the button got pushed throughout this book. It’s an interactive book that persuades the reader to push the button and they the aftermath is shown on the next page. Things automatically take a turn for the worst on the first push. The language of the book is persuasive, sneaky and frantic at times. I used the adjective sneaky because seeing the words “No” or “Don’t” plastered on the front of the book, it automatically makes you want to do the opposite. Larry, the main show more character says don’t push the button, but then on the next page he started to get curious. He says “That is a pretty nice button though, I wonder what would happen if we pushed it…” and on the next page he contemplated what he just said and proceeds to persuade the reader to push the button. As the reader, this made me as curious as Larry was. After pushing the button is where the language gets frantic because Larry sees what the button does now and it surprises him. The book is written in short sentences which makes it easy to read. Larry, the narrator, is the only character in the book until the end. I feel that the reader could be part of the book as well because its interactive and the reader is essentially controlling what happens in the book. The plot of the book is organized because the problem associated with pushing the button gets resolved at the end. On the left side of the book, there is the picture of the button all by itself. The white background of this story also sets the mood. There isn’t much to look at so the button is “in your face” at all times. I like this because the author gets right to the point. The book also used a lot of exclamation points. This helps the reader realize how surprised Larry is about them pushing the button. He also uses words like “EEK! and Ahh!” which allows the readers to almost hear his screams. This is a fiction book but the underlying message is valuable in a way. I think the underlying message is that one should follow directions when they are given because there is probably a reason these rules are implemented. The message could also be that when you make mistakes you fix and learn from them. show less

First sentence: Hey there! Great to see you again! I'm so excited to be visiting the farm with you. Let's go! Don't open the gate that means you!!! Oh, don't worry about that sign. It's probably nothing. Could you flip open the latch? I can't reach it.

Premise/plot: This is an interactive board book in the sense that it is asking readers to participate using their imagination. (Think Blue's Clues or Dora the Explorer or the like). It is written using the second person--you. The book is pure silliness from cover to cover.

My thoughts: These books fall flat unless you're really to engage fully. I do think the book can be appealing because it is enthusiastically over-the-top silly. I think the person reading aloud can help this be an show more engaging read as well. (Sometimes how you read a book aloud is so important.)

I like this one, but didn't personally love it. show less

I still like "Press Here" better as an interactive book, but this one was pretty cute, too. I can imagine making buttons with kids in storytime so they can all press their own buttons during the story as we're reading it. Definitely one to keep in mind for the future...

What a great read aloud! This book will leave students laughing so hard they are rolling around on the floor. I highly recommend this book to students in K-1. This book will make them giggle, but also on the edge of their seats the whole time. They will roar with laughter and then be immediately silent when you are about to turn the page because they can't wait to see what happens next. An instant winner in my book!

How not to push the big, red, tempting button???

Specially if the ONLY rule in Larry's book is do not push the button?!?!?!

The book is simple, funny, and very interactive. I can't imagine a kid not liking it. We laughed each time we pushed the button (yes... we did push the button...) and something funny happened to Larry. Hilarious!

Warning: You might want to go on pushing every button you see after closing the book.

Age range: 2 to 6 years old.

Check out more children's book reviews in my Reviews in Chalk Blog!