A Day That's Ours

‘Can we? Shall we steal a day?’ So begins this wonderful ode to childhood and to slowing down and savouring life’s simple things.

An unnamed father and child forget about the mad daily rush and instead delight in making and consuming a somewhat messy breakfast and then sally forth, slowly of course, into the great outdoors where all around them are people dashing hither and thither on bikes or in cars. They in contrast, spend time observing with all their senses as they make their way to the park, be it discovering tiny treasures like the beetle beneath a leaf or a flower peeking up between the paving stones or watching the leaves dancing in the air. There are a wealth of sounds to enjoy: murmuring roots, birdsong, the child’s laughter. Prepare to be captivated, not only by their shared experiences but also by Vyara Boyadjieva’s delicate, detailed illustrations that portray poignant moments throughout the book and show the ‘small signs’ of seasonal change in her rich colour palette. Children’s will surely love spotting such things as the bird’s nest with a parent feeding its little ones, the activities of the cat and the lively dog.

A gentle, joyful read aloud where words and pictures fuse together seamlessly; it will resonate with both children and adults, especially those who have a child about to start preschool or school with all the pressures that brings.