Hello Day

Starred review from February 5, 2024
Saturated colors, bold lines, and spreads that zoom in close give jolts of visual energy to this zinger of a tale by Mylie
(We Might See). Having greeted the day,
a toddler with yellow hair and a dotted
red shirt runs a toy thoughtfully down a bespectacled caregiver’s arm as the adult asks, “How about we go to story time?” From then on, as occasional word balloons from the grown-up reveal the book’s narrative arc, the child heartily greets everything they encounter, including an apple (“Hello apple,/ hello shelf./ I can reach you/ all by myself”), green boots (“I’m getting big./ you’re getting tight”), and a praying mantis. Bright blue pigment collides with lime green and magenta as more greetings ensue en route to the library, including for a storm drain into which the child drops pebbles (“plink/ plunk/ plip/ plop”). Consigned to a park bench with the apple when the library doesn’t allow food or drink, child and caregiver make a small but exciting final discovery in this effervescent here-and-now story that smartly centers a child’s noticing. Characters are portrayed with various fanciful skin tones. Ages 3–5. Agent: Hannah Mann, Writers House.

February 15, 2024
A child greets the world and everything in it. Young children understand that there are many fascinating things to say hello to everywhere. The world's wonders deserve their due. Even when a loving parent is taking you to storytime, you don't want to rush when there are sights and sounds to greet. So it goes for the leisurely tyke in this colorful, bouncy rhyming story, narrated by the child. The parent suggests that the pair hurry, but the little one is determined to salute everything they encounter. Beginning at home, the kid welcomes the day itself, then an apple, easily reachable from the shelf, then a pair of boots--which the little one dons independently. "Hello" to neighbors, then to various outdoor urban critters, vehicles, and cacophonous street sounds. The kid's got to say hello to the "holes" in the sewer while "plinking" rocks into them! So what if the two of them miss the bus? Finally--the library, but hello, no food or drink inside. They sit outside as the child finishes the apple, and the adult spies something magical inside the fruit--and HELLO!--thanks to a playground detour, the parent finally appreciates the world from the tot's perspective. This charming tale is enlivened by ebullient ink and crayon illustrations; young ones will relate and say "hello" to this one pronto. Characters have fanciful skin tones; the protagonists are depicted with hues of yellow. "Hello" to an effervescent take on early childhood's fascination with the world. (Picture book. 3-6)

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January 1, 2024
In this slice-of-life picture book, a child narrates a typical day, including playful moments (dropping stones through a grate) and times calling for patience (needing to finish an apple before eating sweets). The stream-of-consciousness text, interspersed with sound effects and words from a caregiver, is reminiscent of Ruth Krauss's work and should make an appealing read-aloud. Ink-and-watercolor illustrations in a bright, bold palette are eye-catching.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)