BOOKS: One of Those Days

Congratulations to David Kim of West Chester, Pennsylvania for winning this week's book giveaway!  While this contest is now closed, please come back to SixSeeds for more giveaways for good, family, fun!

At SixSeeds, we believe in the power of a good story.  The books our children are hearing and reading will move, inspire, and sometimes even shape their lives... even young lives. This week, we take a popular kids' book and examine it. Hopefully, the next time you're browsing though a crowded bookstore, our reviews will help you sort through the thousands of titles…  and you can choose wisely!

Title:  One of Those Days
Author: Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Illustrator: Rebecca Doughty
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Age: 4-8
Cost: $13.99
Buy It: here
Rating: 5 out of 6 seeds

Ever had One of Those Days? You know the kind where Grandma gives underwear for your birthday, you are stuck in an itchy sweater, or you can’t seem to say the right thing no matter how hard you try?  This is the actual title of Amy Rosenthal’s book which captures childhood disappointments in a lighthearted manner.

Each page, through its pen and ink drawing, conveys a predicament and the accompanying caption titles the saga of the day. From “ Annoying sibling day” to “Nobody’s listening to you day,” who can’t relate to Amy Rosenthal’s depictions of the days in the life of a kid? And who, after walking through any one of these days, doesn’t find a little comfort in the book’s closing reminder:

Every single one of those days eventually turns into night            

And every single night turns into a brand-new day.

Families who aren’t afraid to admit the shortcomings of things that happen during the day will appreciate Rosenthal’s simple and honest style. The understated pictures and even the economic use of words actually convey something about the message… maybe these things, while real frustrations, simply aren’t as big or life altering as they seem in the moment.  This author gets balance. The way she honestly acknowledges life is sometimes tough and inconvenient, coupled with a hopeful ending is satisfyingly realistic. This book may also be a reality check which has a steadying effect on parents and children.  It provides some much needed freedom to simply see the day for what it really is – just a day. 

The Bottom Line:

This book leaves the reader feeling a little lighter… and not because of an overly sugar coated outlook on life.  Thankfully, tomorrow really is a new day. Rosenthal is well known for her delectable Cookie Lessons as well. More info on her work can be found on her website.

For Parents to Consider:

Parent’s moods often directly correlate to the mood of their kids. This book reorients the overzealous parent to possibly analyze kid’s moods with a tad less diligence. Sometimes bad days just happen. And those days really do turn into nights. And Voila – what follows? A brand new day

To Talk to Your Kids About:

This might be a fun opportunity to reframe some of the usual parent/child conversation. Forego the question “How was your day?” Instead, use Rosenthal’s descriptive titles of the days and make up your own! “So, what would you call this day?”

Resist the urge to “Pollyanna” your labels.  If you couldn’t find any socks that match and had to wear one blue on and one black one, say it.  And don’t follow up with it up with“Well, let’s see how to make it a ‘super clean day!’” Just step away from the positive spin and rest in the imperfection. By not trying to fix every frustration, the author validates disappointment without giving it too much weight.

Plus, there’s no telling what “day labels” your kids might come up with!

Would you be interested in your own copy of this book?  Please leave a comment below and one lucky winner will win one just by commenting.  (Make sure you also enter your e-mail address.  This will both automatically sign you up for our free weekly e-zine, and allow us to contact you if you are the winner!

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