A Year of Everyday Wonders

Starred review from October 26, 2020
Klein (Thunder Trucks) records a year in the life of a child in “firsts”: quiet, unassuming anniversaries that will be instantly recognizable to readers young and old. “First day of the new year,” she starts, as sweet but never saccharine ink-and-wash panels by Leng (Over the Shop) follow a young child and older brother through the morning: “First wake-up// First waffles/ First fight with your brother.” (The brother lets loose a mischievous waffle missile.) Leng dwells on domestic comforts: pots of jam, hot chocolate and blankets, books and plants, attentive parents. Some of the firsts originate in the natural world (“first summer storm”), while others are part of the human world (“first family reunion”). There are bumps along the way: umbrellas new and lost, a familiar tally of sibling tensions (“Ninety-seventh fight with your brother”). Understated, telegraphic humor enlivens throughout, as when the child tries experimenting with scissors in front of the bathroom mirror (“first haircut”) and receives a professional touch-up afterward (“second haircut”). Klein’s touch is light and Leng’s movement-filled vignettes are harmonious as they capture the year in an album whose joys and disappointments become a cyclical, cumulative string of memories. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Brianne Johnson, Writers House. Illustrator’s agent: Justin Rucker, Shannon Assoc.

November 15, 2020
A collage of new experiences right from the first of the year. A young girl with beige skin and straight, brown hair wakes up to the first day of the new year. Thus follows a parade of the year's firsts--waffles, new umbrella, snowfall, fight with her brother (a recurring theme that compounds exponentially as the year goes on), and more. Klein's simple, understated text effectively and poignantly paints a world of hilarity mixed with drama ("First crush"; "First missed bus"; "Second lost umbrella"). Shown in both vignettes and full-page art, Leng's soft watercolor palette is punctuated by the characters' evocative expressions that add to the emotional depth of the book. While books about the seasons are a familiar sight on shelves, this fresh twist offers young readers a glimpse of important moments in a child's year--moments that add up to a wealth of experience and anticipation of firsts still to come. At times, the "first" motif slips slightly. These experiences are meant to occur within one year, so readers may wonder at "First giving" and "First getting" at the end of the year in winter (no birthdays?); or, for that matter, more than one mask ("First new mask") at Halloween. However these are minor quibbles in an otherwise satisfying read. The endpapers are worth poring over, done in a scrapbook style. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.5-by-21-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.) A delightful tale that is likely to be a perennial first at storytime. (Picture book. 4-7)

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December 1, 2020
Grades K-3 Succinct text and lively illustrations showcase a little girl's experiences through the changing year. It begins when Mom and Dad wake her and her brother for "first waffles," which is shortly followed by "first fight," as he flings a spoonful of breakfast at her. From there, other firsts follow--like snowballs, a crush, and short sleeves--then "seconds" begin interweaving with the firsts (her "first haircut," for instance, a DIY job, leads quickly to a "second haircut" at a salon). Through the shifting seasons and settings and despite occasional mishaps ("three hundred eighty-fourth fight with your brother") there are plentiful fun, sweet moments, like playing on the beach and exchanging gifts. Eventually, the year concludes with "lasts" ("last waffles")--and begins anew. Leng's loose, expressive watercolor-and-ink cartoon art adds delightful, often droll detail to Klein's spare lines, particularly in the faces and body language of her figures. Though not all the events will be familiar to every reader, lots of the scenarios are likely to amuse and reassure. Younger siblings in particular will likely appreciate this winsome picture book.

COPYRIGHT(2020) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from December 1, 2020

K-Gr 2-Young elementary readers and budding artists will be drawn to this story of family life, filled with a young girl's memories of "firsts" throughout the course of a year. Leng's effortless watercolor and ink illustrations pair with Klein's spare words on every page, showing the significance of everyday moments as the young girl grows and spends time with her family. The playful, delicate lines and light textures of the colorful illustrations shine in the purposeful absence of descriptive text or sentences, as each gesture and detail drawn gains weighty meaning in its representation of the named moment. Simple curved lines and light washes of color exhibit finesse and serenity in the composition, while the text settles neatly above or beside the scene captured. Not every moment depicts a time of happiness, but the story is made all the stronger as it demonstrates how life is made of many memories including those ordinary disappointments or frustrations, like lost umbrellas and sibling rivalry. Scenes are paired at times to humorous effect, which children will find easily relatable. VERDICT Through detailed visual elements, this quietly delightful picture book speaks to the potential treasure of small moments in childhood.-Rachel Mulligan, Pennsylvania State Univ.

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