For Just One Day [Hardcover]

Laura Leuck (Author), Marc Boutavant (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

For just one day, I'd like to be a busy, buzzing bumble...BEE!

What child hasn't pretended to be a monkey, a bear, or a bumblebee? After imagining the fun of being a variety of animals from around the world, a sweet ending—and an attached mirror—remind little ones that the very best thing they can be is exactly who they are.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Schoolchildren imagine themselves as chimps, whales and butterflies in this fantasy. The layout builds suspense, with ellipses preceding each page turn: If I could have a spiky spine/ I'd get to be a.../ porcupine! thinks a girl as she brushes her unruly hair and then, in animal form, has luxurious spines combed by a patient bunny. The children's choices sometimes improve their lives, as when a nerdy boy walks past two teasing kids: For just one day, if I could dare,/ I'd be a growling grizzly.../ bear! I'd give my brother quite a scare,/ if I could be a grizzly bear. (As a bear, he cups the bullies—who have turned into mice—in his paw.) Evoking 1970s illustration, Boutavant's (All Kinds of Families!) eccentric digital art features lithographs' grainy textures, fine lines and saturated colors; his doe-eyed, bobble-headed characters resemble the kids from the Love Is... comic. Leuck (I Love My Pirate Papa) crafts bubbly if predictable verse; a mirror on the final page helps salvage a wordy conclusion about preferring to be/ that special someone, that is.../ me! Up to age 4. (Oct.)
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Review

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\\\"...any child will most likely be happy to play the game...\\\"

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (August 19, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811856100
• ISBN-13: 978-0811856102
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #94,220 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review from www.firrkids.com, November 19, 2009

By 

www.firrkids.com - See all my reviews

This review is from: For Just One Day (Hardcover)

Some of my favorite books are those that plant an idea into the mind of a child and really get the imagination racing. I love to see the wheels turning and hear the wild thoughts that burst forth. After reading this, every child will come up with half a dozen animals they would like to be transformed into!

The entire book is built on a simple premise with great execution. Just one question with nine unique responses: If you could be an animal for just one day, what would you be and why? The answers are produced in both beautiful and comical illustrations.

The little boy telling the story has one heck of an imagination. If he could swim the Nile, he would be be a creeping crocodile. But not just any croc, you know. This one wears a tiny red hat and has the sharpest, snapping smile.

Many of the animals pictured have taken on some of the human characteristics or appearances. The rabbit hops along in a striped shirt and green overalls, while the porcupine lazes back, writing in her journal. The illustrations are bright and clever, and altogether very enjoyable.

The only question remaining after reading this book is - what will your kids come up with? In addition to the animals mentioned here, ours wanted to be a gorilla, a one-humped camel and a slow-moving turtle. The very last page includes a little surprise - a shiny mirror that reflects back the most special someone in the whole world.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Classic, November 24, 2009

By 

Joseph Newton "illustrator & art director" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: For Just One Day (Hardcover)

A sweet, empowering story of imagination and self-esteem. And best of all - the fantastic artwork of Marc Boutavant. A classic!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for group sharing, March 8, 2010

By 

J. Prather (IN USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: For Just One Day (Hardcover)

This book is perfect for story time. A group of children take turns imagining what animals they would be for just one day. The rhyming is great and gives a good opportunity for group participation because of it's predictability. Each page ends in an ellipse and you have to turn the page to discover what that child wants to be. It doesn't take long for the group to catch on to the pattern and the rhymes are easy enough that you are sure to get some right answers among older preschoolers. The message is well delivered without being preachy. It's great to pretend, but the best thing to be is yourself!