l to r: Vi Hughes and Lydia Ramsey

In Tumble Hill Library, amid a boisterous crowd of children, sits a lonely dictionary aptly named Samuel O. Dictionary. Perched high atop a bookshelf, he is filled with big words – and even bigger feelings.

This proud dictionary longs to be loved and cherished as tenderly as his storybook companions. With his grandiose vocabulary, Sam wonders why children overlook him, especially when they so eagerly flock to nursery rhymes during Mother Goose’s storytimes. Bruised and bewildered, he sets out to change his fate using his greatest superpower: words. Yet despite his eloquent appeals and earnest attempts to be noticed, he remains in the shadows.

Determined to understand his rivals, Sam explores the world of nursery rhymes. To his surprise, he finds himself giggling and laughing along the way. Perhaps, he concedes, they are not so dreadful after all. Rather than replacing them, he resolves to carve out a place for himself within Mother Goose’s cherished circle.

Illustration: Lydia Ramsey.

His plan is simple yet delightfully absurd: he inserts a word into a nursery rhyme no one could possibly ignore – aardvark. The result is both puzzling and irresistible. At last, little hands reach for him. His pages are turned, his words spoken aloud, and Sam basks in the long-awaited joy of being read. Along Came an Aardvark transforms a familiar childhood staple – a trip to the library – into a whimsical world that will have children glancing twice at the bookshelves. The story is elevated by illustrations that showcase Lydia Ramsey’s signature sense of silliness. Sam is undeniably adorable – a red tome with expressive eyes that convey a wide range of emotions.

The bright colours and richly detailed library scenes bring to life the world of this proud, if somewhat lonely, dictionary. That said, the story feels a bit unfocused. The book juggles several ideas: a dictionary championing the power of words, Sam’s disdain and then appreciation for “absurd” nursery rhymes, and his simple desire to be noticed and loved. While all of these threads are present, the narrative is heavy on build-up and somewhat meandering in its resolution.

Nevertheless, the illustrations are a delight, and Samuel O. Dictionary is a memorable character who truly commands both the page – and now, a spot on the shelf.