Do Not Open This Book! by Michaela Muntean

Do Not Open This Book! by Michaela Muntean, illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre
( Scholastic Press, New York, 2006)

This is an excellent example of 'book as artefact' where the creation of the story is the story. Cleverly, the story is being created as it is being read: a pig is trying to write a story and is being constantly disrupted by the reader turning the pages. The act of turning the pages is itself a plot device which draws the young reader into the story and gives him/her a sense of control. The pig makes a number of futile attempts to stop the reader from turning pages (including placing a "VERY HEAVY ROCK" onto one page) which helps to create humour as the reader believes he/she is upsetting the pig, making his escalating outrage and gruff manner funnier.

Different types of text are employed to create the narrative - speech bubbles, signs and labels - which challenge the reader to make meaning. Not only is the reader coauthor, but also becomes a character in the story. This is most evident when the pig invites the reader to insert his/her name in a story he has written in an attempt to make the reader mad enough to go away. The postmodern elements combine to create an intelligent, interactive and hilarious book that young readers will find highly engaging.