Up, Up, Up, Down!

Toddler-PreS-A toddler spends a day with his father in this simple and charming picture book. After getting ready in the morning, father and child head to the pool and park, where they have a fun time learning to swim, making sand castles, and having ice cream. At the park, the toddler gets a balloon, which he loses soon after, and begins to cry, but his dad is there to comfort him and he feels better soon. Once they arrive home, they play together until mom arrives home from work. Sweet and unassuming, this picture book will have wide appeal. Gee uses repetition and simple text in bold font that pops off the page, making the book suitable for both group and one-on-one sharing. The illustrations, which were drawn in pencil and then painted digitally, feature soft, cheerful colors that reflect the warm tone of the story. Similarly, the character designs are appropriately sweet and adorable. This picture book features a black family and lovingly depicts a father as the primary caregiver to his son. VERDICT With cute characters, charming illustrations, and a portrayal of a loving family, this is a delightful choice for young readers. Recommended.-Laura J. Giunta, Garden City Public Library, NY

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

For all collections serving the impetuous, contradictory, joyful, exploratory board book crowd. . . This book may have been born as a picture book, but its true self suits the sturdier format perfectly. -School Library Journal, starred review of the board book edition

A toddler lives through a day full of opposing directives with their stay-at-home dad. . . The parts of this day will be familiar to parents and children alike. . . A fresh take on opposites and routines for the very young. -Kirkus Reviews

"Opposites loom large for babies, and Gee brings the concept to adorable life. Her action-packed visual vignettes refreshingly feature a brown-skinned baby and caretaker dad who dramatize the obvious ('no' and 'yes') and the more subtle ('yay' and 'uh oh'). Her touch is feather-light, with many telling details to spot." -The New York Times

This opposites book follows one active brown-skinned toddler and stay-at-home-father throughout a busy, fun-filled day. . . When Mom gets home from work, the family's love and contentment is further underscored by a book-and-snuggle time while caregiver Dad takes a much-needed load off - next to a pile of laundry, because a parent's job is never done. -The Horn Book