Matt McAvoy Book Review

A beautifully designed book with a huge chunk of style, you can see that Lauren has put enormous work and passion into this ambitious and heartfelt project.  It is fun, bright and colourful, and arguably the real star is the stunning computer-generated animation, of which it is packed full in abundance.  The storyline is creative and highly informative; I always enjoy seeing illustrated children’s books delivering important, educational information in a vivid and entertaining way, particularly if it is timely and current (which I am sure this one will be for quite some time yet, sadly).  Lauren and the kids in the book address the coronavirus confusion from every side, as far as the youngsters might see it: why is everything closed (obviously); why are our classrooms a video conference call; why can’t we hug our grandparents; why can’t I just keep playing my video games; why are the shops sold out of everything?  Happily, though, Lauren resists the ease to slip into the morbid and fearful approach, instead choosing to show how much fun these kids are having, whilst learning about something new and challenging.  To be honest, it is refreshingly cheerful to see the global crisis reported with such wonder and holistic empathy.

Although full to the brim with outstanding, creative and talented illustrations (which, to be honest, did worry me a little in respect of their impact on the book’s printed production cost), the balance of imagery to text is actually just right; Why is Everything Closed? is clearly aimed squarely at the early-grade age group.

My only gripe – and I admit it did niggle me perhaps a touch more than it should have – was that it couldn’t seem to decide whether or not it was verse; in parts it rhymed, in others not, and if I’m honest that did make it a little tricky at times for the more compulsive part of me to grip a handle on.  I felt that it should have more clearly chosen to be one or the other, and personally I would have liked to see a more conscious effort to make it rhyme and melodic throughout.  But, in truth, I doubt the target reader will care, and I am actually loath to criticize in any way what is a truly lovely sentiment and a hard-worked educational project.  In fact, I thank Lauren for writing such an important book, with the perfect approach, and I wish her great success with it.