At the End of the Day by Lisl H. Detlefsen & Lynnor Bontigao (Review)

Title: At the End of the Day
Creators: Lisl H. Detlefsen, Lynnor Bontigao
Type: Fiction
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Date published: April 23, 2024

A complimentary physical copy of this book was kindly provided by Purple Shelf Media in exchange for an honest review.

A pitch-perfect story about a busy, exhausted, and loving family dealing with one obstacle after another in the run-up to bedtime, in the spirit of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

At the end of a long day, sometimes it feels as if time will keep stretching endlessly. There are errands to run, homework to do, and toys to be put away. Sometimes it’s windy, and stormy, or downright boring. But . . . sometimes, with a little patience, the end of the day can be warm and cozy, surprising and exciting, and just right—filled with reasons to be grateful for the day you’ve had, and to look forward to tomorrow, too.

⤖ My Review ⬻

I was excited to read At the End of the Day by Lisl H. Detlefsen and Lynnor Bontigao because even though I’m not a parent yet (a little one is due to join us mid-December! Ahhh!), I thought it would offer a glimpse into what it might be like at the end of the day with kids once they’re older than toddler age. The illustrations are warm and inviting, capturing the cozy routine of winding down after a busy day, which made me appreciate the small, often overlooked moments that make up family life.

The end of the day in our modern age for most in the developed world can be taken for granted, and I liked that At the End of the Day emphasized the value of this time, despite how monotone or repetitive it might feel to adults and children in the moment itself. I think there are takeaways for readers of all ages here, and I liked how At the End of the Day communicated things in a way that would be easy to understand for the youngest of readers as well. This book is a lovely reminder to cherish the simple rituals that bring families together—I will be keeping an eye out for more by this author-illustrator combo!