Up, Up, Up, Down!

“For all collections serving the impetuous, contradictory, joyful, exploratory board book crowd… This book may have been born as a picture book, but its true self suits the sturdier format perfectly.” -School Library Journal, starred review of the board book edition


“A toddler lives through a day full of opposing directives with their stay-at-home dad… The parts of this day will be familiar to parents and children alike… A fresh take on opposites and routines for the very young.” -Kirkus Reviews

“Opposites loom large for babies, and Gee brings the concept to adorable life. Her action-packed visual vignettes refreshingly feature a brown-skinned baby and caretaker dad who dramatize the obvious (‘no’ and ‘yes’) and the more subtle (‘yay’ and ‘uh oh’). Her touch is feather-light, with many telling details to spot.” -The New York Times

“This opposites book follows one active brown-skinned toddler and stay-at-home-father throughout a busy, fun-filled day… When Mom gets home from work, the family’s love and contentment is further underscored by a book-and-snuggle time while caregiver Dad takes a much-needed load off - next to a pile of laundry, because a parent’s job is never done.” -The Horn Book

Kimberly Gee was inspired to create this book when her twins were toddlers. One day, while rushing them out the door, she realized a toddler’s day (and a parent’s!) is full of opposites. Chuckling over the joy (and work!) of those toddler-rearing days, she set out to write this story. Kimberly is the author-illustrator of Mad, Mad Bear! and Today with Meg and Ted, and the illustrator of The Class (by Boni Ashburn). She lives in Claremont, California, with her twins and their dad.

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