We Are in a Book!
A meta-fictional adventure where characters realize they are being read. It includes a built-in gag that requires the child to speak out loud, making it a great tool for engaging reluctant readers.
We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems is estimated to take about 4 minutes to read aloud (256 words, about 1 sentence a page), and it lands best with children aged 3-6.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 4 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Word count
- 256Counted words
- Sentences per page
- 1Sentence per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 5/5still good at forty
- Vocabulary level
- 1/5plain words
- Best for
- Ages 3-6Our editorial fit
Our review
This book breaks the fourth wall by having the characters interact directly with the reader. The humor is interactive; characters try to get the reader to say a specific word out loud.
It is an excellent way to get a child involved in the reading process. Once they realize they can influence the story by speaking, they are often hooked.
Themes
- friendship
- humour
- books
- fourth wall
Books like We Are in a Book!
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
There Is a Bird on Your Head!about 3.5 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
Waiting Is Not Easy!about 3 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!about 4.5 minutes estimated · 4/5 re-read
Press Hereabout 4.5 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!about 3.5 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read We Are in a Book! aloud?
About 4 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 256. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is We Are in a Book! actually for?
Ages 3-6 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 1 sentence a page and vocabulary at 1 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does We Are in a Book! survive being read on repeat?
Yes - this is one of the few that is still fine on the fortieth reading, which is why it scores 5 out of 5 with us.
Is We Are in a Book! a good book for a child who will not sit still?
It helps that it has a refrain a child can join in with, and it asks the child questions to answer out loud. Those three features are what keep a wriggling toddler listening, far more than the subject matter does.
Will my child memorise We Are in a Book!?
Probably, and fast. The book leans on a repeated refrain, and at 5 out of 5 for re-read tolerance it survives the nightly repeats that get a book memorised. Expect your child to chant the pattern back before they can actually read.
Can a beginning reader read We Are in a Book! on their own?
It is closer than most picture books. With 1 sentence a page and plain vocabulary (1 out of 5), a confident early reader can attempt it, though it is written to be read aloud first.
Is We Are in a Book! part of a series?
Yes, it belongs to the Elephant & Piggie series. It stands on its own, so you can start here without reading the others in order, then move to the rest if it lands.
What themes does We Are in a Book! cover?
We tag it with friendship, humour, books and fourth wall. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
Lists We Are in a Book! is on
50 reviewed booksBooks for 3 Year OldsBrowse 50 books for 3 year olds. Includes read-aloud times and word counts to help you match the story to your child's current attention span.- 50 reviewed booksBooks for 4 Year OldsA collection of 50 books for 4 year olds, including read-aloud times and word counts for stories with more developed plots.
- 50 reviewed booksBooks for 5 Year OldsFind great books for 5 year olds, from favorite picture books to first chapter books. Includes estimated read-aloud times for quick planning.
- 14 reviewed booksFirst Reading Books for 5 Year OldsFirst reading books for 5 year olds, from simple repeated words and dialogue to early short chapters and visual readers.
- 13 reviewed booksBook Series for 5 Year OldsBook series for 5 year olds, including Elephant and Piggie, Frog and Toad, Narwhal, Princess in Black, and Mercy Watson.