Sleepy-time Musings: Just Because by Mac Barnett.

WHY IS THE SKY BLUE?

WHY DO TREES CHANGE COLORS?

WHAT ARE BLACK HOLES? THE MOUTHS OF DINOSAURS?

It's bedtime, that time when kids suddenly remember they have forgotten to do their math, or they have to bring five purple things to school tomorrow, or that they need six photos of their grandparents for the class bulletin board.

Or sometimes, bedtime brings out a heretofore hidden scientific or philosophical thirst for the secrets of the universe.

Our girl is all settled in her bed, puppy, PJs,  and all, but she can't sleep without the answer to some unfortunately complex questions.  Dad, waiting at her bedroom door, insists it's time to go to sleep--which reminds her that she has a burning desire to know why people have to sleep at night.

"BECAUSE," SAYS DAD, "THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE CAN ONLY SEE WHEN OUR EYES ARE CLOSED."

In Mac Barnett's and Isabelle Arsonault's Just Because (Candlewick Press, 2019), some tantalizing stalling questions are posed, but left on the back burner until another day (or bedtime). Done in luminous guache, pencil and watercolors, artist, Isabelle Arsenault provides a slightly retro Fifties' look to her drawings, alternating with lovely, dreamlike  portrayals of the girl's wondrous reveries. Barnett (The Important Thing About Margaret Wise Brown) offers a comic look at that famous childhood bedtime-delaying tactic, the difficult question... Arsenault’s imaginative power enhances a thin, nevertheless enjoyable, text" says Publishers Weekly.

Mac Barnett's award-winning collaborations with artist Jon Claasen are Triangle (Shape Trilogy), Square (Shape Trilogy), Circle, Sam and Dave Dig a Hole (Irma S and James H Black Award for Excellence in Children's Literature (Awards)) This Is Not My Hat,  I Want My Hat Back. and We Found a Hat. (see more books by Mac Barnett reviewed here.)

Daughter on Duty! Daddy-Sitting by Eve Coy

Today I'm Daddy-sitting.

He likes to get up early...

This fond little preschooler is a bit sanguine in her description. Actually, Daddy is still sacked out, while his energetic daughter is already wide-awake, and it takes a dive onto his bed and her helpful cat slapping at his hand to rouse him. But at last he's up, and she "helps" by pouring milk on his cereal (and the table).

But once he's well fed, his dutiful daughter helps him get his daily workout by towing her behind his bicycle to the park, pushing her swing, and going for a swim in the pool. Excess energy worked off, Dad makes a quick run to the grocery store for dinner supplies. Back home, the girl has her work cut out for her--tea-partying with her cat and doll, coloring her drawings, and building block towers, while Dad takes it easy doing some laundry.

Ooops!

Sometimes he doesn't watch where he's going.

But his daughter-on-duty soothes his boo-boo and tries to builds his self-esteem, telling him he's smart enough to be anything when he grows up--astronaut, nurse, detective, even chocolate maker!

But her dad says there's only one job he wants right now...

...being my DADDY!

Eve Coy's gentle vignette of a loving family, Daddy-Sitting (Clarion Books, 2019) is a heart-warming diary of a daddy-daughter duo. Coy's charming illustrations are slices of daily life, just an ordinary day with daddy in a very loving parent-child relationship. Family love is built that way, one day at a time, and Coy's cute little preschool girl is one lucky kid, learning the skills of care-taking as Daddy takes good care of her. This one is great to have on hand for Fathers Day or any day.