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OTTO GROWS DOWN

Name: OTTO GROWS DOWN
Author: Michael Sussman
ISBN: 978-1-4027-4703-8

by Michael Sussman and illustrated by Scott Magoon ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 3, 2009

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A rash wish turns a boy into a little Benjamin Button. Six-year-old Otto sighs and suffers through the birthday party of his one-year-old sister, Anna. His parents have given her his favorite rattle; when they ask him to blow out Anna’s candles and make a wish, he does: that Anna was never born! Uh-oh—everything starts going backwards. At kindergarten, Otto wipes paints off a canvas and goes up a slide. On Tuesday, he brings in the garbage; he takes a bath when he’s clean. And the toilet...don’t ask. Otto’s in a panic. He gets younger and younger. Suddenly it’s his first birthday, mother shakes his rattle and that gives him an idea. The deadpan drollery of Magoon’s cartoon-style illustrations should appeal to adults as well as children, matching the quirkiness of Sussman’s premise. Otto’s demonstrative lack of enthusiasm as he shakes his rattle for Anna is flat-out hilarious, and his growing consternation as he begins to live his life backward comes across loud and clear. Genuine issue gracefully handled. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: March 3, 2009

ISBN: 978-1-4027-4703-8

Page Count: 36

Publisher: Sterling

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2009

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
DUCKWORTH, THE DIFFICULT CHILD
by Michael Sussman ; illustrated by Júlia Sardà

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PAPA'S COMING HOME

by Chasten Buttigieg ; illustrated by Dan Taylor ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 20, 2025

An affirming, though lackluster, look at a loving queer family.

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For his debut picture book, teacher and activist Chasten Buttigieg draws inspiration from life with husband Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. transportation secretary.

The big day has finally arrived! Rosie and Jojo have been counting down the days until Papa comes home from his work trip. With a little help from Daddy, they make “welcome home” signs to greet Papa at the airport, pick flowers from the garden, and bake a “seven-layer chocolate cake with purple and yellow frosting.” Much to Daddy’s bemusement, the kids gather all of Papa’s favorite things, including his robe and slippers and their adorable pooch, Butter, as they walk out the door to pick up Papa from his travels. The author offers an affectionate portrait of the everyday domestic life of a same-sex family unit. While many kids and adults will be pleased to see their experiences reflected on the page, both the choppy writing and the flat digital artwork are fairly bland. Characters display similarly excited facial expressions throughout, while the portrayal of the children borders on overly cutesy at times, with intentionally misspelled signs throughout the house (“Papa’s Very Spechull Garden. Please do not tutch”). Like the author’s actual children, Rosie and Jojo are brown-skinned, while Daddy and Papa present white.

An affirming, though lackluster, look at a loving queer family. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: May 20, 2025

ISBN: 9780593693988

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Philomel

Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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BECAUSE YOUR DADDY LOVES YOU

by Andrew Clements & illustrated by R.W. Alley ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 23, 2005

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Give this child’s-eye view of a day at the beach with an attentive father high marks for coziness: “When your ball blows across the sand and into the ocean and starts to drift away, your daddy could say, Didn’t I tell you not to play too close to the waves? But he doesn’t. He wades out into the cold water. And he brings your ball back to the beach and plays roll and catch with you.” Alley depicts a moppet and her relaxed-looking dad (to all appearances a single parent) in informally drawn beach and domestic settings: playing together, snuggling up on the sofa and finally hugging each other goodnight. The third-person voice is a bit distancing, but it makes the togetherness less treacly, and Dad’s mix of love and competence is less insulting, to parents and children both, than Douglas Wood’s What Dads Can’t Do (2000), illus by Doug Cushman. (Picture book. 5-7)