Natalie has had many different jobs in her life and is now starting out as a published author. It is a complement to her work that she has been teamed with Danny Snell, a long time illustrator much awarded for his varied and impressive work, which includes one of my personal favourites, The Truck Cat. Apparently Danny was a reluctant reader as a child, more drawn to pictures than text. That may explain why his pictures are such vivid storytelling vignettes always extending the text.
This book presents the contrast between a hectic crowded rushed Saturday and a slow, relaxed, family oriented Sunday. Readers will be familiar with all the activities shown: swimming, shopping, at the park on Saturday; lazy breakfasting, music practice, gardening, cloud gazing, pizza making on the Sunday.
Written in simple rhyming text, the actions gallop along on the Saturday, with words and phrases such as zoom, mustn’t wast time, hurry and no time to spare while Sunday is the total opposite. I like the endpapers which are ‘to do’ lists summarising what happens during each day of the weekend.
Children will recognize these activities and no doubt will want to talk about their own weekends. Teachers and parents will find this book useful when talking about time, days of the week, regular activities, concepts of fast and slow and more.