THURSDAY by Ann Bonwill: A heartbreaking, yet ultimately hopeful tale of a young girl facing divorce.

THURSDAY

by Ann Bonwill, illustrated by Kayla Harren

Two Lions, 2022

ISBN: 978-1542032396

Source: Blue Slip Media & publisher

Ages 4-8

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Book cover & book summary provided by Blue Slip Media.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When a little girl learns about her parents’ divorce on a Thursday, it ruins her favorite day of the week. But her stuffed-unicorn friend steps in to help, taking her on adventures to cheer her up and staying by her side to comfort her when feelings are hard. Then, slowly, the little girl and her unicorn friend awaken to the natural world that surrounds them as life continues to shift and change…until the day that Thursday can become just Thursday again.

Told with great sensitivity and beauty, this is a book of healing and hope for children experiencing divorce and a testament to the power of friendship in helping us to overcome life’s biggest obstacles.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR

Ann Bonwill grew up in Maryland surrounded by books. Before becoming an author, Ann worked as a clinical social worker, a Montessori teacher, and an autism therapist. She is the author of multiple picture books and nonfiction books for children, including When Mermaids Sleep, illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher, and I Am Not a Copycat!, illustrated by Simon Rickerty. Ann has lived in many places, from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Frankfurt, Germany. She currently lives in Virginia with her family. Learn more at www.annbonwill.com.

Kayla Harren is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York City with a BFA in illustration. She’s an award-winning illustrator of multiple picture books, including A Boy Like You, written by Frank Murphy, and The Boy Who Grew a Forest, written by Sophia Gholz, among other titles. Her work has been featured in the Society of Illustrators, American Illustration, Communication Arts, and 3x3 Magazine, and she won the Highlights for Children Pewter Plate Award. She lives in Minnesota with her family. Learn more at www.kaylaharren.com.

Facebook: Kayla Harren Illustrator
Instagram: @kaylaharren

REVIEW

A young girl's parents tell her about their divorce on a Thursday tainting what used to be her favorite day. Her 'stuffed' unicorn comes to life to comfort her as her life becomes divided into two parts.  She divides her stuff into two groups, one to go with her mother, the other to go with her father.  She struggles to adapt  to her two new homes.  Her unicorn gets big to offer her the comfort she desperately needs.  Slowly, she adjusts to her new circumstances and the unicorn shrinks back to it's original size, but is always there when needed.  

This is an important book.  So many children experience the hurt and confusion brought on by divorce.  This one first broke my heart and then comforted it.  The illustrations convey in stunning detail the pain and confusion the little girl is experiencing.  The illustration showing her former life and her upcoming divided life is especially stunning (see below).  The growth of the unicorn to a large size to provide the emotional support the girl needs is powerfully symbolic.  The friendship between the girl and her unicorn makes a sweet counterbalance to the confusion of her new life, but I would have liked to see her parents offering her more love and support as well.  I especially appreciated how the girl and unicorn reached out to help some birds as she learned that helping others would help her feel better.  The hopeful nature of the story is great as it shows that with time and love and support, the little girl adjusts to her new life.  The little girl and her unicorn are so adorable, I just wanted to leap into the story and comfort her myself.  To me that's a sign of a well done book.  I highly recommend this tender story of facing life's challenges with the love and support of a good friend.

ILLUSTRATION SAMPLES