A Good Day

-->
A Good Day


Henkes, K. (2007). A good day. New York: Greenwillow Books

Age Level: 3-5

Genre: Family situation animal fantasies

Summary: "Refreshing". What starts off as a very bad day for different animals ends up becoming a very good day.  A Good Day demonstrates just when you think thinks are bad, they can get better for any animal or person.  This is an uplifting book that leaves you thinking, "What if?".

Reflection:  A Good Day by Kevin Henkes was recommended in our textbook Essentials of Children's Literature by Lynch-Brown, Tomlinson, and Short.  Henkes was listed as one of the notable authors and illustrators of children's books (pg. 84).

Henkes lives up to his reputation with A Good Day.  When observing Henkes' art, my first thought was that it represented Print making, specifically woodcuts.  Upon further observation, I realized that Henkes is using watercolors.  The bright pictures of different animals and his use of the colors he is illustrating.  Little yellow bird is illustrated as just that, a yellow bird.

This book is not only wonderfully illustrated, but shows the readers a great lesson in life.  Little yellow bird, little white dog, little orange fox, and little brown squirrel are having such bad days until their days turn into good ones.  With each of these animals, Henke teaches invaluable lessons.  They all turn their luck around and have a good day.  The pictures show the emotions of these animals.

You can see how little yellow bird is distraught over losing his feather...

Henke does such a wonderful job teaching children how to express their emotions.  Little yellow bird is sad about losing its feather in the picture above.  In the picture below, it shows what little yellow bird looks like when it is happy and not worried about the feather.

 

  At the end of the book, Henke brings together each character in one illustration.  This gives the reader the opportunity to ask questions about feelings and each of the animals.  Children are able to point to each of the animals and discuss the events in the animals day and how they were able to turn their event into a positive experience.  Because of this, I believe A Good Day should be considered an interactive book.
















 

This was my first reading of a Henke book.  It was a pleasant experience to read a book that ended with a positive and happy ending.  This book is simple enough to be read to very young readers, but holds the audience's attention well enough to be read by all.  The insight into this book is endless and is a must read for children of all ages to teach them that life is, quite simply, what you make of it.  This book gives true meaning to the quote used by many about the glass being half full or half empty.