Little Daisy’s Worst/Best Day
Kathleen Edick and Paula Johnson, Authors
Wee the People Publishing, LLC, 2012
Suitable for ages: 3 and up
Themes: Moving, Leaving Family, Friends and Pets, Starting New Schools, Making New Friends
Opening: “We’re at Grandma and Grandpa’s house today. Mommy’s home packing; We’re moving away. This is the Worst Day I’ve ever had. I don’t want to move? It’s making me sad.”
Synopsis: A sister and brother are moving far away and leaving behind their dog, Daisy, who they’ve had since she was a puppy. One day an older couple comes to take Daisy home with them to their big farm. It is Daisy’s WORST DAY ever. She won’t eat, play, and ignores her new family. Then one day the new owner feeds her a bowl of spaghetti. And the farmer takes Daisy for a ride through the fields in the back of his truck. Daisy discovers a whole new world of digging, exploring and chasing rodents. At the same time the children learn similar lessons and make new friends. And they keep in touch with their grandparents by writing letters until they are reunited during vacation.
Why I like this book: This charming book is part of the “We Serve Too!” series written in verse for military children by two loving grandmothers, Kathleen Edick and Paula Johnson. The characters remain the same in all four books. Relocation and moving is a theme shared by both military and civilian children. And this is a true story about the author’s real-life “Daisy Dog,” who comes to live on their farm when a family moves. The authors are very clever to use Daisy to help children express their feelings about moving. This beautiful story will help ease the fear and anxiety of moving. It offers hope that things will work out. The illustrations are colorful and show a lot of love and emotion. Visit the Wee Serve Too! website.
And, I want to give a shout-out for the other three Wee Serve Too! books I’ve reviewed: A Child’s Deployment Book, A Child’s Reunion Book, and The Homecoming Box. These are quality books that have helped many military children through tough times. I have donated all the of my books to my local library. They were thrilled to receive them and ordered another set for the other branch.
Resources: The authors have a free discussion guide that can be downloaded free from their website. Just click on Little Daisy’s Worst/Best Day to get access to the guide. This book is a great tool for discussing a move with any child.
This book has been provided to me free of charge by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review of the work.
Every Friday, authors and KidLit bloggers post a favorite picture book. To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Books.
Mar 01, 2013 @ 05:39:35
I never thought about dogs in military families before, that’s so difficult. I’m there’s a happy ending.
Mar 01, 2013 @ 16:40:47
Catherine, if a family is deployed overseas, it is much harder to take a pet. But, Daisy really plays a role in helping children talk about moving.
Mar 01, 2013 @ 07:21:22
Patricia – it’s on my library list ….I so needed this when I was little (my dad was in the Coast Guard). We moved 17 times before I was out of high school. I remember traveling to California in a station wagon with two cats, and a german shepherd–the bird stayed with my Grandparents. That trip was a PB in itself!!
Mar 01, 2013 @ 16:58:13
Laura, when I review a book that is related to the military, I seem to forget that many readers may have come from military families. I can’t imagine moving 17 times. So you know what it is like. You might enjoy looking at the entire Wee Serve Too! series for kids — especially if you know a military family.
Mar 01, 2013 @ 08:18:46
We forget the difficult life families of the military can experience. I’m so glad these grandmas have addressed this issue. Kudos to them!
Mar 01, 2013 @ 17:03:09
Yes, Kathleen Edick has a son in the military and she wrote the books for her grandchildren. Today’s book could be for any child who has to move.
Mar 01, 2013 @ 09:11:41
There is an organization that collects names of families who will foster dogs for military families when needed. But fostering is hard–knowing you have to give them up (been there) The first book on the PPBF list today was also by an author who formed her own publishing house-don’t know if I’ll get my question answered there, so I’ll ask here too–Does anybody know, is this considered self-publishing?
Mar 01, 2013 @ 17:13:50
Wendy, thank you for that information. I wasn’t aware of the such a foster dog program. Wouldn’t mind having the name because I usually focus on the military in May.
Yes, it is independent self-publishing. But, they have legally formed their own company and have an imprint. They publish their own books, but could also publish other author’s books if they so wished. They have editors, illustrators, distributors they work with. A lot of work. Many people are going this route with niche books. Like the well-known author Donna Jo Napoli.
Mar 01, 2013 @ 10:02:39
Adore the idea of doing this form the dog’s point of view, what a creative way to help kids cope with these difficult transitions.
Mar 01, 2013 @ 17:15:51
Joanna, yes, I thought it a very clever approach to use Daisy’s point of view. This book is meant for any child who has to deal with moving.
Mar 01, 2013 @ 12:58:57
Poor pup. I never thought about how hard it would be to keep pets for military families.
Mar 01, 2013 @ 17:17:43
Can tell you love dogs. I didn’t even know a program existed. It would be hard to care for a dog, then return it to its owner. And, it might be a bit hard on the dog.
Mar 01, 2013 @ 14:37:27
This sounds like a great book! I personally can relate to Daisy. I’ve had to move and leave family and it’s not easy! I’m sure it’s hard for kids too. I’ll have to check this one out! Thanks for sharing!
Mar 01, 2013 @ 17:19:58
I bet you can. You may want to share it at school. Great discussion book for kids moving in general — but from a dog’s POV.
Mar 02, 2013 @ 09:31:38
What an interesting book and series! I had never before heard of it or this publisher. Thank you for sharing, Patricia.
Mar 03, 2013 @ 15:35:41
I have enjoyed sharing this series. They serve such a great need for children. And, they are fun!
Mar 02, 2013 @ 09:57:37
What an important book. I like the point of view of the book. I would like to read it!
Mar 03, 2013 @ 15:36:47
Yes Erik, I enjoyed the point of view! Great way to help kids deal with moving, making new friends and attending a new school.
Mar 03, 2013 @ 10:57:25
This looks excellent for any kid who has to move, or has to give up a pet. Thank you, Pat.
Mar 03, 2013 @ 15:38:25
Thanks you Beth. This is such a wonderful book for kids needing to relocate. And, a great addition to the series.
Mar 04, 2013 @ 01:16:05
Moving can be really tough but leaving behind a pet is even tougher. This sounds like a book for class collection. Thanks!
Mar 04, 2013 @ 10:59:57
Barbara, it would be a good class collection. Kids are always moving and changing schools which as you know is really hard. Great book for all kids.
Mar 13, 2013 @ 15:34:24
We were in a position recently when it looked as though we had to rehome our nine year old dog. It is heartbreaking to say the least. We are doing everything we can to keep her, but her life has changed dramatically (as has ours). Maybe we are being selfish trying to keep her with us when she could have been somewhere else and been treasured. It would have meant explaining all this to our 3 yr old granddaughter also. We will see how it pans out.
Mar 13, 2013 @ 16:57:52
Niamh, it really is a hard decision to make. When we travel, we have two different friends who care for Archie. They have large fenced in backyards, where he can explore and have fun. When we pick him up, I’m not always sure he wants to come home. He has so much fun. We have a large yard, but are not allowed to put up a fence. So, he spends a lot of time in doors begging me to play ball with him all day long. I have the same concerns as you do. It’s hard to know what to do.