BOOK REVIEW: HAPPY NATIONAL AUTHENTICITY DAY!

​This holiday is all about staying true to yourself, and this book shares that message with young readers:

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​TITLE: BARTLEBY

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Matt Phelan

PUBLISHER: Farrar Straus Giroux/2026

OPENING LINES:

Everyone says NO sometimes.
Bartleby says, “I prefer not to.”
He says it a lot.

Look at that cover! Isn’t Bartleby adorable? If that doesn’t grab you, the story sure will. Bartleby is a bear of few words, and the few words he does speak are, “I prefer not to.” He prefers not to share during sharing time, not to play the xylophone in music class, and to not sing a silly song. Even though Bartleby prefers not to do a lot of things, he still wants to be part of his class community, but in his own way and in his own time. This book has everything I love: an endearing main character, adorable illustrations, secret “undies” (different cover under the dust jacket), and a heartfelt message. I prefer to love Bartleby!
 
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