An Ordinary Day
Publication Date: March 10, 2020 by Beach Lane Books
An ordinary day in an ordinary neighborhood turns out to be quite extraordinary in this moving story about the circle of life.
It’s an average day in the neighborhood—children play, roses are watered, and a crow watches over it all. But then two visitors arrive at two houses, one to help a family say hello to a new baby and one to help a family say goodbye to a beloved pet. This sensitive picture book takes a gentle look at life, death, the bonds of family, and the extraordinary moments that make ordinary days so special.
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“On an ordinary day, extraordinary events occur as Arnold’s parallel stories of loss and life show how the world’s shared experiences connect humanity…[An Ordinary Day] powerfully demonstrates how small but monumental events can connect and change the world.” (Kirkus)
“On a city street one day, everything appears normal to children playing. But two houses are ‘unusually’ quiet. In one, an old dog is drawing its last breaths; its family, two women and three children, gathers around sorrowfully. Next door, a father, pregnant mother, and small child gather expectantly, waiting for new life to arrive…With enormous sensitivity, the creators weave together beginnings, endings, joy and sadness, and a metaphysical sense of the universe’s continuity.” (Publisher’s Weekly, Starred Review)
“On any given day in this idyllic suburban neighborhood, children play, plants are watered, and people come and go from houses. On this day, those ordinary things are happening—but also so much more…profound in the way it underscores how “life-changing” events are happening all the time, even as regular life continues, this book is especially effective at communicating big, difficult concepts to children in terms they will understand, despite—or, perhaps, because of—being quiet and understated.” (Booklist, Starred Review)