The Best Part of The Day

by Sarah Ban Breathnach, Wendy Edelson (Illustrator)

In her international bestseller Simple Abundance , Sarah Ban Breathnach inspired millions of women to find happiness in each day of their lives. Now Breathnach is back with her first children's book, The Best Part of the Day . Beautifully illustrated and lyrically written, this "good night" story encourages children to find at least one moment in each day that is worthy of celebration. The Best Part of the Day is the perfect addition to any family's nighttime routine.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books

40 pages, Hardcover

First published August 25, 2014

About the author

In addition to SIMPLE ABUNDANCE, Sarah Ban Breathnach is the author of THE SIMPLE ABUNDANCE JOURNAL OF GRATITUDE, SOMETHING MORE, and MRS. SHARP'S TRADITIONS. She currently resides in California. Please visit her website at www.simpleabundance.com.

Reviews

[Kori · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are going to buy only one book to read to your child at the end of the day, this is the one. Beautiful illustrations to go along with the beautiful message, this book will teach your children about gratitude, while reminding adults how many wonderful things there are to appreciate in the every day. I can't wait to read it to my little animal lover at bedtime tonight!

*Received an advanced copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads.*

[Beth (YA Books Central) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Each part of the year
brings lots of good reasons
to treasure the gifts
we find in each season."

What a beautiful story that expresses that each one of us should take a moment to be grateful for the simple joys in life. This book reflects on spending time with your family, explaining the importance of spending time with your children, and being a huge part of your children's bedtime rituals each night.

Its the small things in life that help people to recall the memories of times long forgot....of memories that bring smiles to your face.

I truly loved the illustrations in this book and especially the ones showing the animals all cuddled together with their young settling in for the night. Humans and animals both have a strong desire to protect their young and ensure their safety.

"But the very best part of this day
is over there on the floor.
Before we had one cat
and now we have four!"

There's new baby kittens
so tiny and small.
Aren't nature's surprises
the best gifts of all?"

The Best Part of My Day also reflects on family traditions and shows several illustrations of children helping their Mom cook dinner, helping to rake the leaves up when Fall has arrived, and helping to feed and water their animals each day.

The Best Part of The Day was a beautiful children's book that expresses the values of family and of taking time with your family each and every day. The illustrations were so life-like and beautiful. I just loved everything about this children's book and have read it to my son for the last 3 nights in a row! He loves it as much as I do!!!


http://curling-up-with-a-good-book.bl...

[Michelle Willms · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most beautiful children’s books I’ve ever read. The words and startlingly vivid illustrations (by Wendy Edelson) work together to evoke breathtaking images and remembrances. The illustrations and text provide a flashback to many moments from my own childhood. Sarah Ban Breathnach has created a book that is every bit as memorable as The Night before Christmas.

Of course, this book is something that can be read every night with children. The illustrations are so lovely that fresh details pop out with each viewing. The stanzas of the poem are not just words on the page, placed there because they rhyme and go with the pictures. These words have actual merit; they provide children and families with talking points. This is vital to maintaining a strong familial connection: open communication.

The author provides a lovely opening for families to discuss the happenings of each day through this breathtaking book. She designed this book to teach children appreciation and gratitude for the small things in life, those things that happen each day that we often take for granted. It’s a lovely message that often goes unnoticed in today’s busy world. This entrancing tome offers a rare opportunity for families to slow down for a moment and share in life’s beauty.

I was provided a copy of this book for purposes of review. All opinions are mine alone.

This is one of those very rare times I wish I could rate a book more than five stars. Five stars simply are not enough for this book. I give this book 5+brilliant, exploding stars!!

For information about the author or her books, please visit www.thebestpartofthedaybook.com.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just received this book today, and I was so excited to read it that my toe year old little girl and I say down and read it right away.
The Beat Part of the Day is written so beautifully. My daughter loved the rhymes and the rhythmical way the story is written. I enjoyed that this book really encourages families to reflect on the best part if their day. Going through all the seasons and thinking about what makes each one special is wonderful. My daughter and I both loved how beautifully illustrated each page was. It was nice to see her interact with the book through asking questions about the pictures or pointing out things that caught her attention.
This book will for sure become a loved bed time story staple.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really, really liked the realistic illustrations. This was another "cover caught my eye" at the library pick. I liked the back blurb about how this can help introduce the idea of daily gratitude to children. We actually started "what's your favorite part of the day" in nightly routine years ago with our children and I enjoy hearing the answers. I like how the book goes through all seasons. I personally know the difference daily gratitude makes and love that this presents the idea to children.

[Pink · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book to teach kids about finding things to be grateful for in each day. It's a great message but sometimes the rhythm of the poetry was a bit off and sometimes the illustrated faces were a bit off and felt a bit uncanny valley to me.

[Robin Raines-Bond · Rating 3 out of 5]

What's the best part of your day?

[Laura (Book Scrounger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a charming book that can help encourage families to make the evening bedtime routine a time for reflection on the day, and remembering the good experiences they may have had.

It goes through each of the four seasons from fall to summer, each season closing with the family pictured at bedtime, remembering whatever particular season-appropriate activities they engaged in that day: baking an apple pie, building a snowman, new kittens being born, and many others.

The rhyming prose and detailed illustrations help to make this a book that parents will want to read and children will want to look at and listen to.

I have an almost-two-year-old who loves books but is very active, and when I first looked over this book I thought it was probably too "old" for him, perhaps due to the lack of concrete narrative. But I was wrong - I tried reading it to him and he loved it! It kept his attention well, and he even wanted to read it again afterwards.

I think what worked for him was the illustrations and familiar objects. This is definitely a "rural" book. It talks about gardens and chickens and outdoor play, and these are things we relate to. There are also a lot of animals in the illustrations, which will especially appeal to young children. Also, there is a good balance of longer passages, with pages that are mostly a large picture with only a few words, and I think this also helped to keep my toddler's attention.

I foresee this becoming a bedtime favorite!



(In compliance with FTC guidelines, I disclose that I received this book for free through GoodReads' First Reads. I was not required to write a positive review.)

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Best Part of The Day (Hardcover) by Sarah Ban Breathnach
Charming book to read to the family especially at bedtime. This book reminds me of my childhood and the stories that were read to me. It's beautifully written and the illustrations by Wendy Edelson are absolutely gorgeous. When going through the story again we would see things in her pictures that we missed the first time, what detail she puts into her work. This book will get everyone talking of the favorite part of their own day as well. Im sure my family will enjoy this book over and over again. This book will also be shared with a family members preschool class and cannot wait to hear how the children liked this story. There is also a Best Part of the Day Activity Guide! (website link in book). I will highly recommend this book.
I was a Goodreads First reads winner of this book

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Ban Breathnach's new children's book The Best Part of The Day is a hearty treat to both the heart and eyes of the reader! Breathnach's words of inspiration on the reflections of our children/grandchildren's day is a gift to all who are blessed with the opportunity to share in their little treasure's recollection of her/his day. Additionally, Breathnach’s gentle style of words is an indirect lesson of the practice of gratitude to children—our world’s future leaders and parents. This habit formation from a young age will aid in developing sound individuals. Also, Wendy Edelson’s warm illustrations compliment Breathnach’s words from page to page!

[Frank Cahill · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Best Part of the Day" is a rich and charming children’s book. Its colorful layout broadens the lyrical appeal of a thoughtful discovery of daily happenings. The author builds around the four seasons to encourage readers to notice the little details in nature, family, home, school, and daily chores.

Terrific artwork will catch the eye of both children and adults. Children will want to return to the colorful paintings, and will want to hear the melody of the story repeated. It’s one of those books that children will ask, “Read it again.”

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A joyfully rhyming storybook for night time reading to our children and grandchildren. Reading this story as a nighttime ritual allows us to "recall a few moments which brought smiles to their faces and made the day special."

This book is a reminder to young and old that a daily practice of "gratitude" can make us aware of how much we have and how we can indeed create miracles in our lives.
"Whether winter or summer, whether autumn or spring, we all give our thanks for the joy each day brings."
Beautifully illustrated!

[Jessica]

I read this to my twins last night and was thankful for a break from "1 apple, 2 oranges, etc.". I liked the rhythm of the book and can see how it will help children recognize aspects of different seasons as well as start discussions as to the best part of their day. I enjoyed reading this to my twins, even if they were too young to understand it yet.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 Stars This is a nice book...but very long winded! I think the point could have been done in less pages. I like the pictures but they are overwhelming at times. The book didn't flow perfectly . Even the authors note was long winded at the back...some times more is just more!

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A poem about all that we can find to be grateful for in each season, about stopping at the end of each day to reflect on the best part of the day and share it with those we love. Detailed illustrations evoke further images of each season and each joy and blessing.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gave to Genn Feb 2015