Written by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee
Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
I used to read this book to my nephew when he was a toddler. This book is a perfect bedtime story. It’s not too short where your child will want you to read another one (Warning: They still may want you to read another one), nor is it too long that your child (and you) start to lose interest. It is virtually impossible to read this book (even to yourself), and not read it in the voice of an exasperated parent.
Most parents, if not all, will immediately recognize the patience-trying antics of a toddler. This story takes you through some of the scenarios parents of toddlers are familiar with: from not wanting to share with playmates, drawing on the walls, not wanting to stop playing when it’s time to leave, and making a watery mess during bath time, to name a few.
The illustration in this book is a huge part of its appeal, in my opinion. I love the variation of brown in the skin tones. So frequently in books, all African American skin is the same tone for every African American character. Not this one. The artist, Kadir Nelson, illustrates like he actually loves Black skin and pays attention to its variations and nuances. I also love the detail in the unruliness of the toddlers’ coils and curls.
I highly recommend this book. It’s a quick read and makes an awesome bedtime story.