THE DAYS ARE LONG, THE YEARS ARE SHORT

A picture book inspired by a contemporary parental mantra.

Two infinitely patient parents awaken to the rambunctious antics of their preschooler and toddler. “The days are long, / but when I’m with you, / I blink and the years fly by.” This phrase, repeated six times over the course of the book, is accompanied by beautiful woodblock print art layered in digital color. These illustrations depict the family spending a single day with their little ones, inside and out. They manage to pack in a beach trip, meals, bathtime, gardening, and more. Full of high spirits, the kids keep their parents on their toes, and no matter the mess or shenanigans, rarely do the adults show any emotion beyond a benevolent smile (Mom’s reaction to getting sprayed by the cold water of a garden hose being a rare exception). Morton creates a paean for parents just trying to cut through the chaos of their everyday lives and remember to enjoy what they have. In the end, though kids will certainly enjoy the children’s capers, the intended audience is undeniably their caregivers, who will more readily take to this somewhat heavy-handed musing on the fleeting nature of time. Characters are light-skinned.

The book is short but the message long-winded in this aspirational tale best suited for parents rather than children.