At the End of the Day by Lisl H. Detlefsen (review)

Reviewed by: At the End of the Day by Lisl H. Detlefsen Natalie Berglind Detlefsen, Lisl H. At the End of the Day; illus. by Lynnor Bontigao. Knopf, 2024 40p Trade ed. ISBN 9780593378632 19. 99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780593378656 10. 99 Reviewed from digital galleys R 4-7 yrs School may be over, but for the household of a little boy, his two siblings, and their dad, the day is far from done. There's homework, chores, and dance lessons, and it feels like there's barely enough time to have fun—and sometimes by the time everything is finished it's already too dark to go outside. Some days are especially bad, with shots at the doctor's office or an admonishing note from a teacher, but even the worst days can always be tempered by washing out the negative feelings in the bath with the promise of a fresh start tomorrow. Family bike rides through autumn leaves and puppy kisses bring smiles, and when their soldier mother makes a surprise return home, the day couldn't be better. The digital artwork is gentle, using wobbly, pencil-like outlines in a soothing shade of brown to depict the family with cartoonish, slightly oversized heads, set against backdrops of playtime messes or the smudgy purple-orange beauty of a walk through a park around sunset. With its focus on balance and resilience, this would be a solid bedtime choice for a kid who needs a reminder that a bad day doesn't mean the end of the world and that it's just as important to appreciate little moments as big ones. Copyright © 2024 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois