Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Player urges attention to the present moment with spare lines that build on the title, offering definitional descriptions that capture the range of life's experiences and emotions. Unembellished digital renderings with spongy chromatic coloring lend a narrative aspect to idea-oriented text. In one scene, a child stands before a class ("Each moment is new"); in others, two children play checkers ("There are fast moments") and one jumps from a cliff into water below ("brave moments"). As the perspective broadens to embrace generational change ("When you were born,/ everything that came before// met somebody new"), the second-person narration notably shifts to first person ("You're happening right now./ It's your laughter and how I hear it"). Closing visuals and sentiments come full circle to reinforce the book's message, centering on a tender but mundane "moment" shared by a caregiver and child. Characters are portrayed with various abilities and skin tones. Ages 5--9. (Mar.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3--"This is a moment./ A moment is made when/ everything that came before/ Meets what is happening now." After opening on a parent and child sitting together, the narrative reflects on how each moment is new, occurring spontaneously. "It's a song and how you hear it./ It's a sunny day and how you feel it." The text celebrates the significance of each moment, reminding children to stop and enjoy the journey of life. Each instance is fresh and fleeting, a combination of past experiences and current circumstances. Whether it is a sunny or rainy day, every moment is shaped by how we perceive it. Player captures these events in colorful, charming pictures that are populated by a diverse array of people, young and old, experiencing the feelings that are part of their particular present, then circling back to the original parent and child. Every moment lights the path to future adventures. This book provides joy, encouragement, and hope to the young and old. It has the pace and poetry of Oh, The Places You'll Go! that make it something of a keepsake on the shelves. Every line, every word, every message tells children to cherish each moment, big or small. VERDICT A heartwarming celebration of life's milestones captured in a fun read that will come in handy during story hours.--Susan McClellan
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Hold on to precious moments. This mindfulness stuff can seem breathless and heady. Youngsters may not get the concept, at least not right away. They have to feel it, live it, and certainly be encouraged in the undertaking by their special grown-ups. Player focuses on ways to live in the moment and relish the here and now. "It's a SONG and how YOU hear it. It's a SUNNY DAY and how YOU feel it." The author/illustrator turns philosophical at times: "A MOMENT is made when everything that came BEFORE meets what is happening NOW." The cheery digital illustrations effectively express these big ideas and will help readers grasp them, relying on saturated colors and dramatic use of perspective to convey young people experiencing "crowded moments," "peaceful moments," and "moments when YOU feel SMALL." Much of the simple, understated text is set in capital letters, emphasizing that these concepts deal in big ideas and weighty sentiments. Adults reading this volume aloud should encourage children to discuss their own special moments and help them understand that all moments are significant--and so are young people themselves. Characters are diverse in terms of race and ability. Moments sharing this lovely book with children will be time very well spent.(Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
