PICTURE BOOKS

Beginning, Middle, and End

by Jon Burgerman (text) & illus. by Jon Burgerman
Union Square Kids/Boxer. Mar. 2026. 32p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781454713234. PreS-Gr 1
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PreS-Gr 1–Beginning, Middle, and End squabble about literary conventions in this self-referential story. When End quits the team, Beginning and Middle struggle to finish the narrative on their own, but can’t find a way to do it without their friend. They settle on a compromise to appease End (because no one wants an unhappy ending) and ­reunite the team because “together they make the best story.” Bold, uncomplicated illustrations are just right for groups, and the comical approach to the subject matter makes this an engaging resource for classrooms learning about the parts of a story. Although it is formatted as a picture book, ample humor and simple text make this a solid choice for emerging independent readers.
VERDICT This title is a first purchase for school and public libraries and is perfect for fans of Jan Thomas and Ethan Long. While it’s useful for supporting language arts curricula, it’s also plenty of fun on its own.
Reviewed by Amy Reimann , Feb 01, 2026

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