Today Is the Day
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- Pre-Order
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- Expected Jul 28, 2026
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- $11.99
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- Pre-Order
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
An innovative and delight-filled picture book that explores the infinite possibilities of each day—from powerhouse creative team Chelsea Lin Wallace and Adam Rex.
A lot will happen today: 22 million people will celebrate birthdays, 55 earthquakes will shake the earth, and 275 million stars will be born.
Yes, quite a lot will happen today. But what will happen to the Day?
Chelsea Lin Wallace and Adam Rex explore the things that could happen on any given day through the perspective of the Day itself. When the Day realizes it’s only one of many, it feels insignificant. But as it ticks on, it realizes that every day matters—in the moments, the milestones, and the memories that can make it last a lifetime.
TIMELESS TOPIC: Classic in its charming picture book sensibility but with an entirely fresh take, this book turns a familiar idea—the value of new experiences—on its head. By attempting to measure the many happenings in a day across the entire universe, and considering each day’s distinct personality, it offers readers a wonderful opportunity to look at the world a little bit differently.
BITE-SIZE SCIENCE: The book’s backmatter holds a fascinating and deeply researched look into what really happens in a single day, all around the world. Eye-opening statistics are paired with sweet prompts to further engage with the ideas, like telling someone a joke to add to the estimated 100 billion bursts of laughter per day or making a paper airplane to join the nearly 94,000 planes taking flight in the real world!
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES: Teachers and librarians will find great use for this book in connection with time units—facts about time are peppered throughout the story and in the backmatter. The potential for classroom writing activities is boundless.
Perfect for:Parents, teachers, and librarians looking for smart, funny kids' booksRead-aloud for home or classroom engagementReaders looking for stories that are equal parts inspiring and humorousYoung readers who love humor, poetry, and fun facts
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Lin Wallace (On Our Way with Mr. Jay) and Rex (The 13th Day of Christmas) flip carpe diem on its head in this lush high-concept picture book that spotlights the life of a single day. As a full-throated songbird heralds sunrise in the distance, "a Day is born." Cataloging text next gets into the Day's reception ("welcomed, grumbled at, or ignored"), requirements (a Day "can never take a day off"), and events (births, bursts of laughter). Meanwhile, cinematic digital illustrations with the chalky weight of pastels depict a global cast, portrayed with various abilities and skin tones, in constant motion. When the Day learns it's only one of 27,000 such periods in a human's lifetime, "it suddenly feels small. It wonders if it's even important." But meeting a mayfly that's "living its entire lifetime in just one day" restores perspective. In a lovely nocturnal sequence focused on a human trio gazing at the stars, the subject makes peace with its transience and creates "space for the next rise"—never knowing that it might be long remembered as someone's best day. With a fleeting, full-hearted spirit, this thought-provoking work suggests that it's not the days in a life but the life in the day. Concludes with "What Happens in a Day?"—a grouping of estimated statistics. Ages 3–5. Author's agent: Jennifer Rofé, Andrea Brown Literary. Illustrator's agent: Steve Malk, Writers House.
