The Hamster Gets Me: A Cover Reveal for Stanley’s Library by William Bee

As far as I can ascertain, there are two types of cover reveals in this world. There are cover reveals for books where the author and the title itself are complete unknowns. In such cases, this reveal is one of the very few ways a debut creator can get their book out there, above and beyond the usual methods. Then there are the reveals of well-established authors, illustrators, and series. In these cases, publicity is nice, but the real hope is to build excitement about what is coming.

Today’s book falls into the latter category, but it amuses me. Why? Because this may be the first time I’ve done a cover reveal for the latest title in a board book series. If you know me then you know I wouldn’t do this for just any series either. I am doing it because it is a series I believe in. That I trust. That I would hand to any small ankle biting tot were I able. In short, it’s the Stanley series by William Bee.

Stanley, if you have not yet had the pleasure, is a hamster. He’s not too dissimilar from fellow British board book rodent Maisy, come to think of it. But where Maisy prefers thick black lines, Stanley is all about precision. Maisy deals in broad strokes. Stanley is a perfectionist. And in true William Bee style, his books seem straightforward but will tend to carry with them some kind of baked in quirk. It’s rarely overt. It almost never draws attention to itself. But it’s this minor weirdness that can offer a parent (who has been forced to read this book 100 times or more) a brief moment of witty respite in a sea of easy concepts.

Today, it is my great pleasure, to introduce to you the latest Stanley title. Why the hubbub? Aren’t there, like, literally 17+ Stanley books already? There are but never have any of them been my profession. So gear yourself up for . . .

Stanley’s Library!!

What makes this book stand out? Please note that this ain’t your parents’ library info title. Read any other librarian-based text and you’d swear our entire jobs were storytime and finding books. Hardly! This board book gets it. In it, you see that being a librarian means wearing IDs, giving out free tickets, filling up the library van and doing site visits, setting up chairs for author talks, and more. And if you’re looking for that baked in quirk I mentioned before, just check out what books they have in their horror section. It’s a treat.

Look, I’m not saying you have to choose a favorite library related board book but c’mon. Maisy’s sweet but Stanley? Stanley gets me. And I hope you get him too.

Filed under: Cover Reveal