Ari and Kat can’t wait for Grandpa’s cookies to be ready, so they build a time machine (which looks a lot like a cardboard box) to travel ahead to when the cookies are done. But time travel is tricky, and they fly too far ahead, to after they’ve eaten the cookies. They try again … and end up viewing their past selves, then shooting ahead into a far future filled with robots, an automated cookie machine, and even themselves as parents. Despite the allure of instant cookies, though, it’s not the same as cookie time with Grandpa. They decide it’s time to go home—but their time machine needs some repairs first….
Author/illustrator Jessie Sima brings their usual fanciful flair to this whimsical tale of creativity, patience, and intergenerational love. Ari and Kat are never gendered; Kat, in overalls, could be read as a gender creative girl, while Ari, with a shaved-side, purple-dyed haircut, tunic, and leggings, could be read as a gender creative boy—or one or both of them could be nonbinary. In the scene of their future selves, Kat is feminine presenting while Ari seems (to me) nonbinary, with a pink, white, and light blue shirt that could imply a trans identity. It’s unclear, but that’s fine; different readers may see themselves in the characters, which is awesome. (I’ve tagged this review multiple ways, not to dictate, but to help readers seeking certain representation to evaluate this title for themselves.)
Sima’s illustrations manage to be both softly pastel and vibrant at the same time; their images of the future are particularly fun. The whole book is charming and highly recommended.
Kat is White; Ari Black, and Grandpa has tan skin and gray hair.
