Published: 1 August 2024 
Publisher: Capstone Editions
Illustrator: Pawel Gierlinksi
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★ ★ ★ – 3.5 Stars
Meet Bob. He”s the all-time favourite library book at Wisdom Hill primary school. But Sebastian is nothing like Bob’s previous enthusiastic borrowers. In fact, Sebastian completely forgets about Bob! This story follows the misadventures of a popular book from the school library. It is beloved, highly sought after, and a great read. Until one day it arrives at a child’s home where it is neglected and then lost.
After Bob the book is keen to go home to another reader he soon becomes despondent when he realises he isn’t going to be read, and almost gets in a range of mishaps around the house. I liked this book compared to other library themed books because this one is about the other side of borrowing library books: when they are left at home and no longer able to be shared by everyone.
Bob even provides the reader with book care tips, which again, compared to other library book themed books it great. This book doesn’t celebrate being scribbled on or stained, or dropped in the bath. This is about keeping books safe and clean so others can enjoy them.
The illustrations are simple but full page and colourful. The narrative text is incorporated similarly to a comic book or graphic novel, but the layout remains in the picture book style.
I loved that our borrower Sebastian isn’t entirely to blame and the story shows a great way librarians can gently follow up and support readers who do keep their books out too long.
And, as someone who has borrowed a lot of books from the library, the irony is this book is itself overdue. But now I’ve written this up I can return it to the library shelves where it can be borrowed by the next keen reader.
Overall, this is a great story about reminding people to return their books on time as other people may want to read them.
You can purchase Overdue via the following
