Kelly Lee (text) and Amy Calautti (illustrator), Nobody Likes Monday, EK Books, August 2024, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781922539847
In her first picture book title, Kelly Lee has intelligently created story characters, each named after the days of the week. These characters’ differences are embraced in the story, but through comparing, Monday decides swapping places with a different character could be the solution to all her problems. Monday’s complaints and the wittiness about her issues shine along the journey. This narrative changes suddenly when one mysterious, sparkly envelope arrives addressed to Monday. I love how this event adds a twist to the narrative and mood with a positive insight into Monday’s strengths.
This book explores some important well-being themes including encouragement for self-acceptance and the celebrating of unique differences such as character strengths and talents. Nobody Likes Monday highlights that everyone has challenge but also essential characteristic value. While encouraging self-reflection with our own strengths and talents, this book reminds us of the positives in our lives. Further values of kindness are encouraged in the book by the kind letters that arrive. Writing letters of kindness is a great way to get that message across!
Nobody Likes Monday is a calming and appealing read for children aged 4-8. For the adults, educational content has been well written for projects and lessons in the various learning areas. Author Kelly Lee has shared both her primary school teaching skills and librarian skills to include extensions from her book, provided in a 16-page set of teacher notes on the publisher’s website. The inspiring projects and learning activities provide educational activity sheets (including days of the week) with links to the Australian Curriculum.
Other titles to read illustrated by the very talented artist Amy Calautti include Easy Peasy (2023), Peanut (2023), and Turning Cartwheels: When Trying to Fit in Leaves You in a Spin (2021). The latest illustrations from Amy Calautti in Nobody Likes Monday have soft pastel colours and create a mood of calmness for young minds during reading time.
Reviewed by Chantelle Ciccotosto
