Up Up Up Down by Kimberly Gee

A chubby, brown-skinned toddler with a mischievous grin, toddles through his day, followed by a sometimes harassed but loving father. From the moment the baby demands "UP!" out of his crib, starting to climb out on his own, and then "DOWN!" on the floor, he's on the go! They go swimming, visit the park, have ice cream, and lots of "fun, fun fun!" until mom, dressed in a purple suit and chunky heels, comes home and the little family settles down for a little quiet time.

Simple text and art make this a fun story for one-on-one reading as well as storytime. Little listeners can lift their arms up, make yummy and yucky faces, and more throughout the story. The art has light, pastel colors; the soft browns of the family's skin, blue of the water, and plain colors in clothes. The pictures are small vignettes set against a white background, simple enough for young listeners to note but complex enough to take time to look at the details.

Verdict: A simple but delightful picture book, fun for families and storytimes, about a toddlers' fun day. The added diversity of the father and brown-skinned family are a nice note.

ISBN: 9780525517337; Published May 2019 by Putnam; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library