Your Future Is Bright

March 15, 2021
Possibilities abound in the latest picture book to tout a shiny tomorrow. "Today is a triumph. It's awesome. You're great! / The things you've accomplished are truly first rate." So begins a relentlessly cheery narrator who addresses a host of children of varying races and genders on what appears to be the last day of school. To the thump of its omnipresent glee they are presented with a wide array of occupations they may wish to pursue in the coming years. Whether they wish to become a detective, a baker, a politician, a mechanic, or any of the other jobs on display, children are told in no uncertain terms that they'll be great no matter what. Even so, what they become is less important than who they become as a person. And, most importantly, the title of the book itself concludes the final line, beating home the overt messaging. Rhymes scan pleasantly, yielding few surprises. A stream of watercolor shades and hues slips from page to page, changing in tone and color as they go, providing a backdrop to the array of employments on display. Not a drop of self-doubt can be found for miles. Amid all these rah-rahs, it is difficult to locate any aspect of this book different from similar titles that flood the market each year. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 25% of actual size.) Yet another picture book that hopes to fall into the hands of graduates everywhere. (Picture book. 4-7)

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April 19, 2021
Classmates wave farewell and rush out the door, jettisoning backpacks, books, and pencil cases at the start of this rhyming, celebratory peek into potential pursuits. In Seussian rhyme, the text suggests “a few clues” based on the kids’ interests. Perhaps the child who enjoys running, for example, will take up a sport. An observant child, meanwhile, might “be a detective or spy/ Discovering secrets as people walk by.” Then again, the narrator notes, “your interests might alter—it happens a lot,” suggesting that following one’s instincts and “generous heart” ensures a bright future. The pep of Finkle’s encouraging text is matched by Couvillion’s energetic illustrations, which are buoyed by frequent swatches and ribbons of color that convey forward flow. Ages 4–8.