Daniel's good day

Micha Archer

Book - 2019

When his neighbors give a variety of answers to the question "What is a good day?" Daniel writes a poem about the everyday activities that give them joy.

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Subjects
Genres
Picture books
Published
New York, NY : Nancy Paulsen Books [2019]
Language
English
Main Author
Micha Archer (author)
Physical Description
pages cm
ISBN
9780399546723
Contents unavailable.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Archer (Snowman â^' Cold = Puddle: Spring Equations) shows readers that, with a little prodding by her inquisitive protagonist from Daniel Finds a Poem, the most ordinary of greetings can mean much more than small talk. "Have a good day!" everyone says to overall-clad Daniel as he walks through his friendly, leafy neighborhood to his grandmother's house. As Daniel polls his neighbors-"What makes a good day for you?"-he discovers something important and distinctive about each of them. For a bus driver, polite passengers ("a please and a thank-you") make a good day; for a housepainter, it's when the weather doesn't hinder her livelihood. "It's birthdays," a baker says over the counter, and for a nanny, it's her twin charges napping. The story comes to a full and reassuring circle when Daniel walks back home and discovers that all his respondents got exactly the day they wanted-and everyone, as the crossing guard will appreciate, is "home safe." Archer's oil-and-collage vignettes portray a diverse community in the midst of a lush, blooming spring, and impressive detail makes a flowering garden and a neighborhood newsstand (whose owner likes a day with "busy sidewalks and friendly faces") riveting. Ages 3-6. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 1-Starring in his second story, the young brown-skinned, curly-haired protagonist of Daniel Finds a Poem is shown in his close-knit community where people of many different ethnicities smile, wave, and cheerfully greet one another. Daniel is a curious youngster, so on his walk to Grandma's house, he stops and asks people, "What makes a good day for you?" He receives a variety of answers from a number of individuals, including a nanny, a bus driver, a mail carrier, a gardener, and a baker. Their answers shine a light on their jobs: "A long nap for the babies," "A please and a thank-you," and "Wagging tails." Lovely, intricate artwork invites close inspection as the oil paints and the tissue and patterned paper collages combine to create colorful scenes with minute details. Each illustration, many of which include flowers, leaves, and blooming trees, appears to be painstakingly composed using rubber stamps and cut paper. Every color in the rainbow is used to create bright, happy pictures that draw the eye closer. VERDICT The idyllic city neighborhood is a joy to visit with its bakery, newsstand, park, and the warm camaraderie among the folks who live there. A book that begs to be pored over and shared.-Maryann H. Owen, Oak Creek -Public Library WI © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review

What makes a good day for you? As young Daniel (of Daniel Finds a Poem) walks through his busy city neighborhood (where he knows many people) to spend the day with his grandmother, he asks that question of everyone he meets along the way. Neighbor Emma hopes for a steady wind for her kite; the mail carrier points to a dog and says wagging tails; the nanny caring for twin infants wants a long nap for the babies. Archers detailed collage illustrations, with their vivid colors and depth, draw readers into the vibrant scenes. As Daniel retraces his steps while walking home in the afternoon with Grandma, it seems that everyone in the neighborhood has had a good dayincluding Daniel. The sense of community is palpable and uplifting; Daniel is an enviably independent and cheerful child; and the portrait of his close-knit brown-skinned family is positive and welcome. martha v. parravano July/Aug p.103(c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

The tale of a kid who loves his neighborhood as much as Mr. Rogers loved his.Wearing blue overalls and red tennis shoes, Daniel leaves his mom and baby sibling to venture to Grandma's house. As passers-by wish him "a good day," he asks what makes a good day for each of them. Mrs. Sanchez, the painter, says clear skies; kite-flying Emma says "a steady wind"; the bus driver mentions riders who say "please" and "thank you." Daniel seems to know nearly everyone in the diverse neighborhood, and each has a response for him. On his way back, leading Grandma to his house, he sees that his neighbors are all having a good day. As this little brown-skinned boy progresses through his urban neighborhood, readers can appreciate the level of detail Archer includes in her colorful, meticulously composed, collage illustrations, from small cutout photographs on the front covers of the magazines on the newsstand to individually cut and torn paper that makes up the flowers and plants lining many yards. This visually stunning book also embraces nontraditional gender roles, illustrates diversity within families, and advocates for the importance of giving children a level of independence and also welcoming them into the family circle after their adventures.A gorgeous picture book that invites young readers to make their own neighborhoods places where good days abound. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.