Today it is my pleasure to review a beautiful new picture book Jack’s Best Day Ever! written by Gabrielle Bassett, illustrated by Annabelle Hale and published by Woodslane Press. This post is part of a Books on Tour promotion.
About author Gabrielle Bassett
Gabrielle Bassett is a scientist, mum and author. She started her career as a Microbiologist. Later, she hung up her white coat and started working in recruitment and discovered she got great joy in finding other scientists their dream jobs.
Through her work in an Australian University, Gabrielle leads programs of work around disability inclusion, Indigenous employment and female leadership within STEM.
Jack, the boy in her story Jack’s Best Day Ever!, is based on her son.
You can connect with Gabrielle Bassett on Instagram and Facebook.
About illustrator Annabelle Hale
Annabelle graduated in 2017 and is an illustrator based in Melbourne, Australia. She loves drawing, dancing and spending time outdoors in nature.
Visit Annabelle Hale on her website Annabelle Hale or connect with her on Instagram and Facebook
About Jack’s Best Day Ever!
For ages 4 – 8
Published by Woodslane Press
Jack loves anything that zooms, digs and races.
But Jack doesn’t like change and he only ever wants to eat peanut butter sandwiches! This heart-warming, hilarious story of friendship explores how it feels to be neurodivergent and introduces children to the idea that there is no one-size-fits-all way to be human.
This book is a fun story where Jack, his sisters and his best friend go on an adventure around the zoo. They get to see lot of different animals and Jack bravely tries the delicious foods that the animals eat.
What I like about Jack’s Best Day Ever!
Jack’s Best Day Ever! is a fun, energetic, vibrant book about acceptance and friendship. I was captivated by the title. Who wouldn’t want to have the best day ever?
We get to know Jack and his quirky neuro-diverse ways, his likes, dislikes, obsessions and fears, through the eyes of his friend Poh, who shares Jack’s love of peanut butter sandwiches. Jack and his friend are different, but they understand and accept each other, knowing that what makes them different is what makes them unique. Although others may make fun of them, they always consider each other to be ‘cool’. Surely everybody needs a friend like that.
While the text focuses on Jack, the illustrations add so much more, making the book rich in diversity including personalities, ways of thinking and being, physical abilities and ethnicity.
We celebrate with Jack throughout the book as his confidence grows and he bravely tries new things. Children learn with Jack that it is not about having to fit in or be the same as everyone else. It’s about learning to take on new challenges and becoming the best you, you can be. It is a great lesson for children to learn through the sensitivity of a gentle story.
Children will easily find themselves and others they know in the characters they meet in this book and I’m sure will come to love Jack as they get to know him and his friend Poh.
Purchase your own copy
Purchase your own copy of Jack’s Best Day Ever! from Woodslane Press and all good bookstores.
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Jacqui
September 2, 2023Best of luck with this darling book.
Norah Colvin
September 2, 2023It is gorgeous, isn’t it? Thank you for your wishes, Jacqui.
Robbie Cheadle
September 2, 2023This book sounds delightful, Norah. Neurodivergent is a new term for me. I’ll have to look it up although I have a good idea what it means.
Norah Colvin
September 6, 2023It is a lovely book, Robbie. Thank you for your comment. Neurodivergent is a fairly new term for me too. It’s good to have the language to talk about some of these things – makes discussion easier and clearer.
DGKaye
September 5, 2023What a beautiful book and colorful cover. Sounds like a great read for little boys and girls. And a wonderful book on diversity. <3
Norah Colvin
September 5, 2023Thanks for popping over to read and comment, Debby. Yes, it is a fun book for children to explore. The diversity included will help children find themselves or someone they know in the pages.