This is a book to read to your child BUT it is also a book all adults need to read!
My friend had a book display recently in her library on the theme of unplugging. Here is her blog post about this. I am a big advocate of unplugging - turning off or not even taking those phones when you are spending time with a young child - I talked about his here.
This story is also about spending time with your children but in this case it is about stepping away from our crazy busy lives to just enjoy a quiet time. The book is set out with contrasting days. Saturday is utterly hectic and timetabled to the max. They go to squad swimming, shop for food, rush to the library, a quick spin at the playground, then a visit to the butcher and finally home to cook dinner.
"Bed. Teeth. Pyjamas. A quick book in bed. Darkness creeps in and stars dance overhead. Saturday's over - the busy day is done. Sunday's tomorrow - a day just for fun."
On Sunday there is time. It is breakfast in bed. Time to play with toys and pots (which are great for drumming). They can spend a little time in their garden and then run through the sprinkler to cool off. What about just lying on a blanket to watch the clouds float by? There's even time for picnics and visitors - hello Nanny and Poppa. At the end of the day the kids enjoy their bubble bath followed by home made pizza and several stories before climbing into bed.
As I said - this is a book for children but it also a book for parents. Often every day can become like the Saturday in this book with all those after school organised activities. Hopefully after reading this book families might find a way to make more days in their week a little like the Sunday in this book.
Here is an interview with Natalie Kate Forbes and Joy Lawn at Paperbark words. In the interview Natalie said: I wanted to capture the chaos of the Saturday, whilst making it feel like a cozy and fun family experience. And on the opposite end of the scale, I wanted Sunday to be super chill. Where Sunday is also a full day – it’s just filled with activities that happen organically and are more chill in nature… the day just rolls on from one thing to another without thought. Again, I was keen to promote strong family bonds and connections.
You can see other books illustrated by Danny Snell here. This is the second book by Natalie Kate Forbes.
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