Does Maurice want to remain safe on a library shelf or does he want to leave the comfort of his home and experience the uncertainties outside his library walls? Now that he is on the brink of being picked, "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times." He knows about the trials and tribulations involved in being borrowed and taken to a child's house. Some dangers are imagined and some dangers are told to him by other books.
Although Maurice is a book, his voice is clearly heard throughout his story. Young readers can relate to his dilemmas. His struggles are their struggles. His successes are their successes. He is their voice. Pick Me is a teaching tool for library etiquette. It also serves as a literary model to help children with self esteem issues and fears associated with new situations.