RJ AND THE TICKING CLOCK

Father’s Day is just around the corner, and RJ can’t wait to celebrate a perfect day with his dads.

At school, RJ and his classmates make cards for the father figures in their lives. Unfortunately, RJ has just 30 minutes to complete two cards—one for Daddy and one for Dada—whereas his classmates each need to make only one. The time crunch causes him considerable stress, showcased through spreads of a large ticking clock looming behind him. RJ confides in his teacher, Mr. G., who advises him to work on one card for both his fathers, but RJ continues to fret. Meanwhile, his classmates, who have finished early, work on a special art project. With five minutes to go before the end of the day, his diverse classmates reveal that they’ve been working on RJ’s other card the whole time so he can uniquely celebrate both Daddy and Dada. Duncan’s straightforward text blends with Ritchie’s spare, child-friendly art for an endearing exploration of a youngster under pressure. RJ’s reliance on math and numbers while overwhelmed showcases a healthy way of dealing with these emotions. While the story may be idealized to a point, those with families like RJ’s will enjoy seeing themselves reflected in a compassionate, tender way. RJ and Daddy are pale-skinned; Dada and Mr. G. are brown-skinned.

A loving look at anxiety management and the unique dynamics of same-sex families.