In fact, he might say books (especially the ones in this store) are very much alive—a point that would be hard to argue after watching his animation, ‘The Joy of Books.'

Set on a dark, stormy night at Type bookstore on Toronto's Queen Street West, the books are safely ensconced on their shelves. But when the shopkeeper leaves and the key clicks the lock into place, the books come to life.

As they shuffle around, reorganize themselves, dance together, read each other and finally, put themselves back into place to a Harry Potter-style soundtrack (by music company Grayson Matthews) you're reminded that a good story can be magical.


Sadly, the argument that books are dying is a common one. After all, print magazines and newspapers have suffered since the introduction of the internet. But does that mean books will experience the same fate?

It depends who you ask.

If you asked me, I'd say no. Then again, I collect books, spend many lazy Sundays reading (or browsing at the very bookstore in this video) and my yearly vacation is spent at a book festival (that happens to be in a town of books) so I might be a little biased.

Yet, given the response to this video—3.5 million views—I think there's a few people who would agree: There's something about the weight of a book in your hands, the sound of pages flipping and the smell of paper that's comforting.

What do you think? Do you prefer the tactile experience of an actual book? Or would you rather curl up by the fire with an e-reader?