Today Is for You!

by Sally Lloyd-Jones, Kevin Waldron (Illustrator)

Overview

Sheer exuberance fills the pages of this picture book celebration of the promise every day brings.

Where will you go on those traveling feet?
Who will you love? Who will you meet?
Be a little seed. Get carried away!
Go WILD into the brand-new day.

From the bustle of the morning to the quiet of bedtime, every new day is filled with possibility. Follow a group of children as they find fun at every turn—dancing, playing games, picnicking, reading a book, climbing a mountain, or just shouting out their enthusiasm to the world. Sally Lloyd-Jones’s upbeat text integrates with Kevin Waldron’s high-energy mixed-media illustrations for a story that exudes unabashed joy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781536225068
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	02/13/2024
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	658,260
Product dimensions:	10.31(w) x 10.56(h) x 0.45(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Sally Lloyd-Jones is the author of several children’s books, including His Royal Highness, King Baby, illustrated by David Roberts; Skip to the Loo, My Darling!, illustrated by Anita Jeram; and How to Be a Baby . . . by Me, the Big Sister, illustrated by Sue Heap. Sally Lloyd-Jones lives in New York City.

Kevin Waldron is the author-illustrator of Panda-monium at Peek Zoo, among other books for children. He lives in New York City.

Editorial Reviews

11/06/2023

“Be who you are. And be that the most,” large purple letters proclaim toward the start of Lloyd-Jones’s exuberant declarative poem about living life to its fullest. Variants on a refrain loosely map the course of the day: “Hello! Good morning!/ (And how do you do?)/ Clap clap/ your hands/ today is for you!” as text urges the energetic appreciation of every moment (“Throw your arms open/ Stand up free and tall./ And love the world—/ Yes, love it all!”). Alongside giant graphical text, poster-like mixed-media artwork by Waldron depicts semi-silhouetted kids of varied abilities and skin tones approaching their nature-filled day with apparent enthusiasm, from morning until bedtime. One child plays guitar, a dozen cartwheel and climb a tree, and so on, lending the work an idyllic vibe reminiscent of “Free to Be... You and Me” and Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Ages 3–7. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

There’s a commendable, uplifting message for youngsters here: Do you, be you, and be proud of whoever you are. . . An enthusiastic reminder to rejoice in being yourself every single day.
—Kirkus Reviews

Exuberant. . . reminiscent of “Free to Be... You and Me” and Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

2023-11-18
Calling all kids: Today is yours; make the most of it!

In this U.K. import with pages bursting with colors, groups of kids do all sorts of playful, active stuff—they occasionally rest, too—and cavort in indoor and outdoor settings. While that’s going on, empowering, exhilarating rhymes, set against colored backgrounds in a slew of multicolored, boldfaced sizes and fonts, exhort readers to grab TODAY by the horns and make it completely theirs. There’s no time to waste. But then, who would want to? Readers are told there’s so much for kids to do today, and on every day, that they should seize every moment! It’s noteworthy that almost no adults are depicted in the bold, very dynamic mixed-media illustrations: This is strictly child territory. There’s a commendable, uplifting message for youngsters here: Do you, be you, and be proud of whoever you are. But while all this is inspiringly kid-centric, it all goes on a bit too long, and youngsters may run out of steam after a while, especially given that many points are repeated throughout: “Jump up and smile / And take a bow. / When is today? / Exactly now.” Characters throughout are diverse in terms of race and ability.

An enthusiastic reminder to rejoice in being yourself every single day. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews