SOME DAYS

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.