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SOME DAYS

Name: SOME DAYS
Author: Daniela Sosa
ISBN: 9781665961981

by Daniela Sosa ; illustrated by Daniela Sosa ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 12, 2026

Offers readers young and old the invaluable gift of perspective.

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A rich recognition of the things that make ordinary days special.

Familiar daily activities—cooking, playing, going to school—occupy adults and children, diverse in skin tone and hair color. Hours spent sick in bed drag, while a day at the amusement park “go[es] by in a wink.” On some days, strenuous effort (like that required to master riding a bike) seems futile, until “it all finally clicks.” Surprises, disappointments, change, rain, sadness at the loss of a pet: Sosa explores the events—and non-events—that make up life. Tears come and go, and sometimes we even exult, “This is the best day ever!” Finally, a grown-up and child snuggled up for a bedtime book consider a most kind and attentive question: “How was your day?” Sosa’s conversational text is rhythmically right, and her bright illustrations are warm and realistic, with just enough detail and reassuring continuity; the adult depicted in the first illustration returns as the reader in the last. Books, bowls of cereal, a snowman, an ever-present cat: Readers will smile in recognition at these familiar trappings. And Sosa sensitively acknowledges that “the same day can feel very different to different people”—a raucous birthday party might be overwhelming to quieter children. Bad days will pass, and so will good days. This book helpfully reminds readers to be both hopeful and grateful—to anticipate better things, but never to take those good things for granted.

Offers readers young and old the invaluable gift of perspective. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: May 12, 2026

ISBN: 9781665961981

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
GIANT PARSNIP SOUP
by Daniela Sosa ; illustrated by Daniela Sosa

- BOOK REVIEW
THE SUITCASE
by Daniela Sosa ; illustrated by Daniela Sosa

- BOOK REVIEW
FRIENDS
by Daniela Sosa ; illustrated by Daniela Sosa

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THE MOST MAGNIFICENT THING

by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2014

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle...

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Making things is difficult work. Readers will recognize the stages of this young heroine’s experience as she struggles to realize her vision.

First comes anticipation. The artist/engineer is spotted jauntily pulling a wagonload of junkyard treasures. Accompanied by her trusty canine companion, she begins drawing plans and building an assemblage. The narration has a breezy tone: “[S]he makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” The colorful caricatures and creations contrast with the digital black outlines on a white background that depict an urban neighborhood. Intermittent blue-gray panels break up the white expanses on selected pages showing sequential actions. When the first piece doesn’t turn out as desired, the protagonist tries again, hoping to achieve magnificence. A model of persistence, she tries many adjustments; the vocabulary alone offers constructive behaviors: she “tinkers,” “wrenches,” “fiddles,” “examines,” “stares” and “tweaks.” Such hard work, however, combines with disappointing results, eventually leading to frustration, anger and injury. Explosive emotions are followed by defeat, portrayed with a small font and scaled-down figures. When the dog, whose expressions have humorously mirrored his owner’s through each phase, retrieves his leash, the resulting stroll serves them well. A fresh perspective brings renewed enthusiasm and—spoiler alert—a most magnificent scooter sidecar for a loyal assistant.

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: April 1, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-55453-704-4

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Kids Can

Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
BYE BYE, BUTTERFLY
developed by Ashley Spires ; adapted by Naseem Hrab ; illustrated by Mike Shiell

- BOOK REVIEW
NO MOUSIE LEFT BEHIND
developed by Ashley Spires ; adapted by Naseem Hrab ; illustrated by Mike Shiell

- BOOK REVIEW
THE MOST MAGNIFICENT MAKER'S A TO Z
by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)