Laundry Day - Perfect Picture Book Friday #PPBF
Who hasn't heard, or heaven forbid, remembers saying "I'm bored." What's your record? - The second day of summer vacation? The afternoon of Christmas? Maybe day one of Spring Break? It's a quintessential "call" of childhood. Usually a preamble to begging to go somewhere, or do something, or the creation of a monumental mess. Laundry Day is a humorous story of two badger kits who got bored.
Laundry Day
Author & Illustrator: Jessixa Bagley
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (2017)
Ages: 3 - 6
Fiction
Themes:
Family, humor, creativity, and active children.
Synopsis (From Amazon):
“I’m bored,” said Tic.
“Me too,” said Tac.
What do two bored badgers do when they’ve done everything, including driving their mother around the bend?
Laundry, of course.
What could possibly go wrong?
In this spirited picture book, Tic and Tac, two adorable badgers, get a little carried away while helping their mom out with the laundry.
Opening Lines:
"I'm bored." said Tic.
"Me too," said Tac.
"Why don't you two read a book?
You love to read," said Ma Badger.
"We read all our books," said Tic.
"Then we read them backwards," said Tac.
Why I liked this book:
I loved both of Jessixa's previous books. Boats for Papa and Before I Leave. This book employs equally delightful illustrations and great sense of humor and timing. After reading their books backwards, invading and toppling their fort, and releasing their captured fish, what's left for two active badger kits to do? The above image offers a hint at "what could go wrong" with a suggestion to help hang clothes. Boredom temporarily cured , Tic and Tac hang everything they can find.
Jessixa has great fun with the language and the detailed illustrations. While not particularly a surprise, their industry shown in an aerial spread is awe inspiring. But they missed two things. With a fun circular ending, and detailed illustrations that beg repeated examination, Laundry Day is a fun romp. In addition to starred reviews, it was just named as a Junior Library Guild selection.
Related Activities:
- motor skill and pretend play laundry activity (http://happyhooligans.ca/clothesline-activity/)
- another aspect of laundry is sorting. Use laundry to compare, contrast, and match types of clothing, by size, color, pattern, length of sleeve, etc.
To learn more about Jessixa, check out my interview of her on March 27.
This post is part of a series by authors and KidLit bloggers called Perfect Picture Book Fridays. For more picture book suggestions see Susanna Leonard Hill's Perfect Picture Books.
