A child and their grandfather are returning a book to the library. When the librarian points out it's 293 days overdue, Grandad recounts an outrageous, far-fetched and funny story of why it took so long to return.
Featuring animals author Swapna Haddow has seen on her travels around New Zealand, the story was inspired by a friend who is a librarian and happened to have a book that was five years overdue.
Children love tall stories and this one doesn't disappoint - from a snatching seal to a deep diving penguin, the book goes on quite a journey. It's a nice story to read aloud, with a repetitive pattern helping build excitement. The structure lends itself to some wonderful questioning lines, and little ones will love coming up with their own additions to the story.
Illustrator Daron Parton brings the characters to life in colourful and quirky artwork. Each character has a distinct personality and there's lots of little detail to spot within the bold illustrations. Parton hints at what is to come in some of the pages, amplifying to younger readers how pictures help tell the story. The endpapers are a nice touch too.
But Then is Haddow's love letter to libraries and librarians, about storytelling and the power of imagination. It's a fun story that will capture younger readers.
Reviewer: Rebekah Lyell
Scholastic