09 Jul / Best Day Ever! by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Leah Nixon [in Shelf Awareness]
Best friends can’t always be on their best behavior, and, sometimes, even the best days can turn bad in seconds. Prolific author Marilyn Singer (Every Month Is a New Year) captures that push-and-pull in her energetic picture book Best Day Ever!, illustrated by debut artist Leah Nixon.
Within minutes of waking up, a rambunctious puppy has already decided today is the “best day ever.” She’s stretched, greeted her favorite human with plenty of licks, and helped him get dressed. The morning only gets better as she digs in the yard, barks at a cat, runs in the park, and jumps in the lake. But when the young pup brings the stink of a dead fish onto her best friend’s lap, the day ends early with a return home for a dreaded bath. When knocking over a lamp causes hollers, best becomes worst … until apologies and assurances of “everything’s okay” restore the best day ever.
The simple, affecting text is significantly enriched by Nixon’s colorful, dynamic digital art. The first spread reveals hints of a bed handrail and wheelchair; the next page shows the boy in it. Nixon’s illustrator’s note and photo reveal she, too, is wheelchair-bound since a recent construction accident, making Singer’s dog-and-boy celebration “the best book for me to illustrate,” even allowing her the opportunity to use herself and her dog Lucy as models. Both author and artist showcase their lifelong canine devotions, made clearly visible in the hugs, cuddles, mischievous joy, and agonizing sorrys between bffs – the puppy’s regretful eyes! This effervescent adventure is irresistible.
Discover: A rambunctious puppy and her favorite human delightfully begin and end The Best Day Ever! together, but not before they share a few mishaps and apologies.
Review: “Children’s & Young Adult,” Shelf Awareness, July 2, 2021
Readers: Children
Published: 2021