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mehsi's review
4.0
This was an adorable and sweet book, and yes I cried a bit near the end, about a boy who has a very important job. He is the ringbearer at a wedding. A big big event and we see how he is preparing to get there and all the things he has to do. From getting up bright and early. Feed the dog. Get dressed. Make sure to have the rings with you (and don't play with them). We see him go to the venue and get hugged and said hi to. And then the wedding begins. His moms are getting married! And I just was so happy for Donovan and his moms! What a wedding! What a wonderful day!
The art was really fun as well, I liked the style.
The art was really fun as well, I liked the style.
crystal_reading's review
5.0
Donovan is super excited about his big day. I love how it builds up to what readers will finally realize is a family wedding. There's a lot of love and many warm fuzzies in this book that shows a boy excited about the marriage of his Mommy and Mama. I enjoyed the soft illustrations and how much expression is shown through the faces of the wedding participants, family and friends.
babyleo's review
3.0
The story is told through Donovan’s point of view and seeing his experience of the world and the Big Day was fun as Newman has mimicked the excited mind of a child and the urge to be a kid despite the importance and the fancy clothes he has to wear.
I liked the book and I enjoyed the story, I just found I couldn’t get into a rhythm reading it. It reads off like a list of things, which from a child’s mind works, but reading it I couldn’t get the flow right. The sentences are long and without punctuation which admittedly helps to convey the mind of an excited child. It is clear Donovan is going through a list in his mind of things he has been told to do and what not to do. It does make it hard to read and you have to find your own rhythm when reading but it is nice.
There’s no big agenda or message, it is all about Donavan doing his best on the Big Day. The focus is on him doing his job well and that makes it a different kind of read. One where the focus is on the child experience and his role, not the type of event. Having said that, it’s a great book that normalises a same-sex marriage and the family dynamic.
Dutton’s illustrations are good and help support the story Newman is telling. Donovan explains each step of his day and Dutton illustrates beside it in both full page and smaller illustrations. Overall, it’s a good book that promotes a child doing an important job and taking pride in doing it right. What he’s doing essentially doesn’t matter and it demonstrates that there are a lot of things you have to remember when doing an important job, especially for people you love.
This review was published on my blog Lost in a Good Bookmy link text
I liked the book and I enjoyed the story, I just found I couldn’t get into a rhythm reading it. It reads off like a list of things, which from a child’s mind works, but reading it I couldn’t get the flow right. The sentences are long and without punctuation which admittedly helps to convey the mind of an excited child. It is clear Donovan is going through a list in his mind of things he has been told to do and what not to do. It does make it hard to read and you have to find your own rhythm when reading but it is nice.
There’s no big agenda or message, it is all about Donavan doing his best on the Big Day. The focus is on him doing his job well and that makes it a different kind of read. One where the focus is on the child experience and his role, not the type of event. Having said that, it’s a great book that normalises a same-sex marriage and the family dynamic.
Dutton’s illustrations are good and help support the story Newman is telling. Donovan explains each step of his day and Dutton illustrates beside it in both full page and smaller illustrations. Overall, it’s a good book that promotes a child doing an important job and taking pride in doing it right. What he’s doing essentially doesn’t matter and it demonstrates that there are a lot of things you have to remember when doing an important job, especially for people you love.
This review was published on my blog Lost in a Good Bookmy link text
backonthealex's review
4.0
Donovan's Big Day by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Mike Dutton
Tricycle Press, 2011, 32 pages
One morning, as Donovan wakes up, he remembers that today is going to be a big day and he has an important roll to play in it. But first, he has a lot to do to get ready. Get up on time, feed the dog, each breakfast, wash, brush his teeth, and carefully put on his new pants, his new shirt, his new jacket, and his new shoes. Then, he must put a very important little box in his pocket for later. Next, a drive with his grandparents to a fancy place, to get in line and wait his turn to walk down the aisle. And just at the right moment, Donovan must open the box and hand his Mommy and his Mama their wedding rings. And after hugs and kisses from his moms, he has one last important job to do - tell them "you may now kiss the brides." Everything in this book is pretty typical wedding stuff, with the one exception not revealed until the end of the story. This surprising big reveal helps show readers the diverse weddings are really not so different than any wedding - they are happy, hopeful family occasions for celebrating love between two people. Dutton's bright gouache illustrations really depict the excitement and pride that Donovan feels about his participation in this very special wedding, and be sure to study the two page spread of wedding guests waiting for the ceremony to begin - I think Dutton has captured the essence of the kinds of guest you find at most wedding, but without caricaturing them. Having had a child who was a ring bearer, a flower girl, and a junior bridesmaid at three different weddings, I'd say that this is a pretty true-to-life picture book.
Tricycle Press, 2011, 32 pages
One morning, as Donovan wakes up, he remembers that today is going to be a big day and he has an important roll to play in it. But first, he has a lot to do to get ready. Get up on time, feed the dog, each breakfast, wash, brush his teeth, and carefully put on his new pants, his new shirt, his new jacket, and his new shoes. Then, he must put a very important little box in his pocket for later. Next, a drive with his grandparents to a fancy place, to get in line and wait his turn to walk down the aisle. And just at the right moment, Donovan must open the box and hand his Mommy and his Mama their wedding rings. And after hugs and kisses from his moms, he has one last important job to do - tell them "you may now kiss the brides." Everything in this book is pretty typical wedding stuff, with the one exception not revealed until the end of the story. This surprising big reveal helps show readers the diverse weddings are really not so different than any wedding - they are happy, hopeful family occasions for celebrating love between two people. Dutton's bright gouache illustrations really depict the excitement and pride that Donovan feels about his participation in this very special wedding, and be sure to study the two page spread of wedding guests waiting for the ceremony to begin - I think Dutton has captured the essence of the kinds of guest you find at most wedding, but without caricaturing them. Having had a child who was a ring bearer, a flower girl, and a junior bridesmaid at three different weddings, I'd say that this is a pretty true-to-life picture book.
wordnerd153's review
4.0
The author does a great job of conjuring up the excitement and stress of a wedding day.
rb26's review
3.0
Always a little wary when a reader is tricked into any kind of diverse representation, even though I understand why it happens. Particularly here when the first couple we see in this book are heterosexual. Having said that I like the story and I think it would be very relatable to a child reader.
abetterbradley's review
4.0
I hope to have children one day and this a great children's book that I would read to my child to let them know that there are all kinds of families.
kaitwells's review
3.0
From my review on DiverseKidsBooks.org:
A close examination of the cover of Lesléa Newman’s Donovan’s Big Day — which features two, shiny gold rings dangling overhead — hints that the story involves a wedding. If you miss that cue, you’ll probably spend half of the book wondering just what Donovan’s “very BIG day” is all about. (Which could actually be a lot of fun for young readers!) But if you’re a fan of Newman’s work, you already know it’s not a “typical” wedding. Newman is one of a handful of authors who pens children’s books featuring same-gender parents and how their families are just like every other family out there. And Donovan’s family, as well as his big day, is no different.
This day is so important that Donovan doesn’t have time to sleep in. He is in a hurry to complete his routine and make it to the wedding venue on time. Without delay, he inhales a big breakfast, gets washed up, and puts on a freshly pressed suit, among other things.
To illustrate Donovan’s busy day, the artist chooses a muted palette, but the images are still lively. The pages are filled with hints of what Donovan’s family is like. The staircase wall features photos of Donovan with his two moms, there’s a petite grandmother making pancakes in the kitchen, a wide-eyed and nervous-looking flower girl standing perfectly still in another scene, and even a muddy Saint Bernard named Sheba running around the yard.
During the morning chaos, Donovan has to make sure he doesn’t do anything to mess up his big day. He doesn’t complain about waking up early, picks up after himself in the bathroom, avoids playing outside with the dog to keep from dirtying his suit, and even refrains from complaining when all of the adults he meets make a fuss over how sharp he looks. He’s the perfect little gentleman who’s doing whatever he can to make his big day better for those he loves most: his moms.
Overall, Donovan’s Big Day is a great introductory story to read to younger children, or to let older ones discover for themselves. Told through Donovan’s eyes, it shows the reader that a family with two moms (or two dads) can still look similar to their own. This book is definitely a great read for those who want to introduce the concept of same-gender parents to their children.
A close examination of the cover of Lesléa Newman’s Donovan’s Big Day — which features two, shiny gold rings dangling overhead — hints that the story involves a wedding. If you miss that cue, you’ll probably spend half of the book wondering just what Donovan’s “very BIG day” is all about. (Which could actually be a lot of fun for young readers!) But if you’re a fan of Newman’s work, you already know it’s not a “typical” wedding. Newman is one of a handful of authors who pens children’s books featuring same-gender parents and how their families are just like every other family out there. And Donovan’s family, as well as his big day, is no different.
This day is so important that Donovan doesn’t have time to sleep in. He is in a hurry to complete his routine and make it to the wedding venue on time. Without delay, he inhales a big breakfast, gets washed up, and puts on a freshly pressed suit, among other things.
To illustrate Donovan’s busy day, the artist chooses a muted palette, but the images are still lively. The pages are filled with hints of what Donovan’s family is like. The staircase wall features photos of Donovan with his two moms, there’s a petite grandmother making pancakes in the kitchen, a wide-eyed and nervous-looking flower girl standing perfectly still in another scene, and even a muddy Saint Bernard named Sheba running around the yard.
During the morning chaos, Donovan has to make sure he doesn’t do anything to mess up his big day. He doesn’t complain about waking up early, picks up after himself in the bathroom, avoids playing outside with the dog to keep from dirtying his suit, and even refrains from complaining when all of the adults he meets make a fuss over how sharp he looks. He’s the perfect little gentleman who’s doing whatever he can to make his big day better for those he loves most: his moms.
Overall, Donovan’s Big Day is a great introductory story to read to younger children, or to let older ones discover for themselves. Told through Donovan’s eyes, it shows the reader that a family with two moms (or two dads) can still look similar to their own. This book is definitely a great read for those who want to introduce the concept of same-gender parents to their children.
mistyfoot19's review
4.0
A fantastic LGBTQ+ book about Donovan's Big Day.
Donovan knows today is a big day. He has to make everything perfect. Wash his face, Comb his hair, don't make a mess! And say hello to a lot of people.
Today is the day that his moms are getting married! And he simply has to kiss the brides.
Donovan knows today is a big day. He has to make everything perfect. Wash his face, Comb his hair, don't make a mess! And say hello to a lot of people.
Today is the day that his moms are getting married! And he simply has to kiss the brides.
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