The emphasis on connecting readers and books and the care of books pays homage to librarianship. The unifying metaphor of life as story is a powerful one, as is the theme of the transformative power of books. Even the furnishings and architectural details of the old-fashioned library in which the books “nest” like flying birds recall the codex. The motif of the bound, printed book is everywhere. Paradoxically, the animated books of the film and app are captured as though in a series of frozen frames. Filled with both literary (Shakespeare, Humpty-Dumpty) and film references ( The Wizard of Oz, The Red Balloon and Buster Keaton), the picture book version of Joyce's story has a quiet contemplative charm that demonstrates the continuing allure of the printed page. Morris Lessmore, whose personal library is blown away in a terrible wind but who finds meaning caring for the books he finds in a marvelous library. The story, in a nutshell, concerns the titular book-loving Mr. Ironically, this book in praise of books first appeared as a much-praised iPad app and Academy Award–winning animated short film.
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