WHAT’S SWEETER

Simple suggestions to enjoy the little, sweeter things in life.

In a series of uncomplicated observations and questions, Tate reminds readers that each day is full of amazing experiences. Some are wonderfully sensory in nature, like when you stroke the “soft spot / behind a cat’s ear,” “when a ladybug / lands on your arm,” and “when you get a hug / from someone / you haven’t seen / in a very long time.” Some experiences are more personal, such as “finally getting something / you’ve been practicing”—like landing a tricky skateboard jump for the first time—or “the feeling you get // when you do something / you really like // and you forget / about everything else.” In the accompanying multipage sequence of illustrations for this last one, a brown-skinned child artist paints butterflies that imaginatively lift off the canvas and become real. Other observations will help readers look more carefully to find “a turtle / eating a salad” or shift their perception to recognize “a fire truck / getting a bath” or realize that “you never quite know // what color the sunset might be / at the end of the day.” The final observation will elicit “aws,” a fittingly tender moment for a soothing bedtime read. Almost childlike in their execution, the illustrations are colorful but calm and highlight active kids with a variety of skin tones and hairstyles and colors. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A quiet book that will help readers experience and reflect on the rich sensations of life.