Monday Is One Day

Most working parents of young children will be on board with Levine (All the Lights in the Night) from the very first line of his new book: "The hardest part of going to work is being apart from you." So how do kids and grownups make waiting for the weekend less onerous? Levine suggests assigning a special value to each day of the workweek: "Monday is one day:/ One safe snuggly cuddle./ Tuesday's blue shoes day:/ Two stomps in a puddle"). Wednesday is "halfway day" and Friday cleverly becomes (for male parents at least) "last-tie day," with the choice left up to the child. Hector's (The Gentleman Bug) strong, sure ink lines, bold colors, and subtle textures invite readers into a variety of homes and families (urban and rural, black and white, gay and straight), while conveying a domestic world of solidity and warmth. In these high-achieving, résumé-building times, it's refreshing to see a book that believes that life is not about what you do but who you come home to—and how you enjoy your time together. Ages 3–5. (Apr.)