Two-time Stonewall Award winner and Newbery Honoree Kyle Lukoff, in his first book for the very youngest children, gives us a charming little volume about everyday family moments. Lukoff’s prose has always been lyrical; here, he leans into his poetic skills with spare, gently rhyming text:
A kiss, a blink, a dawn, a break.
A yawn, a peep, a stretch, awake!
The all-noun, no-verb format works surprisingly well, as we follow the families through mealtimes and diaper changes, neighborhood walks, and explorations of nature. There are helpful hands and fun playtimes, but also the occasional stumble, bump, or broken toy, quickly followed by a comforting touch. There is bathtime and storytime, and of course, finally, bedtime.
I love that Lukoff not only includes sweet family moments, but also a few moments of (minor) difficulty. We see the children experience them but also learn that they are temporary, that there are caring adults and better times soon to come. It feels like a way to help young readers learn emotional resilience.
The three families shown are diverse in several ways. One has two dads, a young girl, a baby, and a grandmother, all with brown skin and black hair (except the grandmother’s, which is gray). The second consists of a mom, dad, and young girl, all with light brown skin and dark hair—and in one scene, the burly, tattooed dad happily pulls on pink hi-top sneakers to match his daughter’s. The third has a single, White mom and young boy.
The illustrations by Nadia Alam are bright and warm, and the character’s faces expressive.
Highly recommended, and also available as a board book as of October 15, 2024.
