FICTION

My Family Four Floors Up

illus. by Celia Krampien. 32p. Sleeping Bear Pr. Jan. 2018. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1585369911.
COPY ISBN
Toddler-PreS—A child, her father, cat, and dog wake up to an ordinary day in their fourth floor apartment. The family members head down the four flights onto a city sidewalk, over to the park, and back up the stairs and into their apartment for a familiar routine. The minimal but playful, singsong narrative moves the story along rhythmically, with "Hello" or "Goodbye" beginning the page with each new scene. Repeated words on each page will help little listeners with word identification, e.g. on the playground "swing,/swing,/swinging," the rain "drip,/drip,/dripping," and finally, "climb,/climb,/climbing" back up the four flights of stairs. Krampien's charming, contemporary full-page spreads are rich in detail and context, which add playful depth to the light text. The breadth of diversity among the people that this father-daughter family pass on their way in and out of their building is welcoming and refreshing.
VERDICT This feel-good picture book is a lovely read-aloud for a toddler storytime. Recommended for purchase.

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