Whatever Comes Tomorrow

January 15, 2023
When that anxious " 'butterflies' in their belly" feeling sets in, kids can counter stress with positive strategies. A series of rhyming stanzas outline the ups and downs of daily life. Loneliness or laughter, scary changes or new opportunities, obstacles or questions--anything unknown can lead to new worries. Verse describing differing, sometimes contradictory situations is paired with vibrant illustrations, rendered in crayon, gouache, pencil, and water-based paints, depicting diverse groups of children. On one spread ("Tomorrow may bring endless sun or swirly, snowy skies. / Tomorrow may bring new hellos or difficult goodbyes") we see a wintry storm on the verso; on the recto, in a sunny scene filled with butterflies, two figures are hugging tightly. Butterflies are a motif throughout, suggesting a sense of tranquility. Finally, the text points out that "You can't control what happens next-- / the what, the where, the how. / The only thing in your control is you." An easy breathing and self-motivating strategy is suggested: "You take a breath. / You close your eyes. / You whisper, "I am strong." As a whole, it's an effective way to allow the fearful, worrisome thoughts to subside, especially if introduced to readers by caring adults. Backmatter includes several "Tips for Managing Worries" written by a child development specialist. (This book was reviewed digitally.) An inspiring, visually appealing read filled with tools to help manage uncertainty. (author's and illustrator's notes) (Picture book. 5-10)

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December 5, 2022
In rhymes that first acknowledge and then reassure, Gardyn Levington counsels fortitude in the face of the unknown. Following “Tomorrow may bring,” examples paint a picture of possible highs and lows in scenarios involving “feelings/ that will need some extra space.” Cabassa employs crayons, gouache, pencils, andwater-based paints in bright artwork that echoes the text’s embrace of change with patterns and markings that curve and flow. Supporting scenes feature individuals with varying skin tones confronting the unfamiliar, from a new hairstyle to a new baby. Acknowledging how natural it is to have anticipatory concerns (“Tomorrow may bring anything—/ you have no way to know”) concluding prose cheerleads, highlighting the need to endure in this message-forward work for worried readers. Creator notes are included, as well as “tips for taming worries.” Ages 4–9.

March 17, 2023

PreS-Gr 1-Throughout this comforting book, colorful, ethereal butterflies flit through the pages, reminding readers to focus on the beauty of life while accepting the certainty of change. In rhyming verse, Levington reminds children and their parents that life will be bittersweet, containing sorrow as well as joy: "Tomorrow may bring loneliness or laughter with a friend. Tomorrow may bring words that wound or ones that heal and mend." It is important for children to know that they have inner strength, that the difficult moments will pass, and that if they let it, worry about an uncertain future will consume them. The author empowers students through simple language in the text: "You whisper, 'I am strong.' You tell those worries in your head, 'I know I can. You're wrong.'" She also offers "anxiety taming techniques" (including breathing, exercise, naming your emotions, and creating a worry plan) at the back of the book. Using water-based paints, pencils, and digital enhancement, Cabassa captures the joys (riding a bike with friends) and uncertainties (welcoming a new sibling) of childhood, but by showing twice as many smiles as frowns on the faces of the children, she also shows that all will work out in the end. VERDICT Perhaps now more than ever, this book is an antidote for the anxiety that many are currently experiencing as a result of the pandemic. A worthy title.-Sally A. James

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