What If We...

by Vivienne Chang, Eugenia Yoh

Genres: Picture Books, Summer, Childrens, Family, Adventure, Storytime

40 pages, Hardcover

Published June 10, 2025

About the author

Eugenia Yoh and Vivienne Chang met as students at Washington University in St. Louis and now live 2,555.87 miles apart from each other. Eugenia lives in Berkeley, California, and makes books for kids. Vivienne lives in New York City and makes digital products for grown-ups. In addition to What If We..., Vivienne and Eugenia are also the authors of This is Not My Home. They hope to continue telling stories that share universal ideas through humor. When they are not discussing their next book concept, they can be found in a forest sharing ideas on what it means to be in your twenties, which is a very confusing time, to say the least.

Reviews

[Becca · Rating 2 out of 5]

So sorry to say that I finished this months ago and it did not hit for me and then I forgot to mark it as read until right now just now today.

[Taylor Woolley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max and his little sister, Mimi, drift through the long stretches of summer that seem to go on forever. What if We… rides the rhythm of childhood imagination, moving from one bright possibility to the next as Max dreams up increasingly wild ways to make the hours feel less empty. The illustrations are the book’s strong point: saturated color, playful exaggeration, and lively visual surprises that make Max’s fantasies feel big enough to step into. Kids will laugh at the sheer audacity of Max’s imagined plans.

Where the story stumbles a bit for me is in the final stretch, when it turns more pointedly instructive, pressing the message that everything is better when shared with your little sister. The sentiment is sweet, but Max’s shift feels a touch too tidy; boredom and sibling dynamics aren’t usually cured in a single epiphany. Still, the destination works, even if the route there feels slightly rushed, leaving me wishing the book trusted its characters (and its reader) to arrive at the lesson with a little more realistically.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer vacation and all of its possibilities! But after just one day, Max feels -- discontent. He has done ALL the things so now what? What if I... go to the park. So he goes to the park - with his little sister Mimi. He goes to the pool - with his little sister Mimi. He goes to the zoo - again, with his little sister Mimi. But there's always that great, unknown, wonderful experience waiting on the horizon. Mimi, being wise beyond her years, finally suggests to Max that if they did things TOGETHER it might be more fun.


I do love the illustrations. And the message about contentment. Also take a peek under the dust jacket. The cover is a bit different.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max did everything he could think to do in his house on the first day of summer vacation. On the second day he wondered what else he could be doing. He was always thinking there was something more than what he was currently doing. He wonders aloud about things like being at the zoo or the park or jumping in jello. His little sister, Mimi, jumps in and asks to come along. Max ignores her until she shouts "what if WE?" while her brother has been focused on "I". Max finds that including his sister results in lots of things to do.

[Dawn Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great picture book done right!!! Realistically rendered illustrations that corresponded with the art panels, black block test that made it easy to read and follow the flow of the story. and a somewhat simple idea of siblings contemplating the idea of, "What If We ....?"
A very enjoyable, imaginative, creative collaboration between author and illustrator that seamlessly tells a story but also leaves the reader wondering beyond the pages of what they too, could do.

[Abbigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't believe this is from the makers of This Is Not My Home! So beautiful and imaginative, a sweet portrayal of a brother and sister, and a great book to add to the collection of books that touch on boredom.

I'm not sure this book COMPLETELY sticks the landing... like, is he just bored? Is he actively trying to ignore his sister? Because it doesn't seem like it. Some questions unanswered but just totally beautiful.

[Emily Orth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are absolutely beautiful! From the zoo to the koi fish, my toddlers absolutely loved the pictures. I loved the details of the open house towards the end, where you can see a well loved home full of laughter and fun. The toddlers also loved acting out the different activities that the siblings did, like jumping in Jello.

The book encourages imagination and creativity, while emphasizing how doing things together makes it all so much better. Loved this one!!

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet summery story about two siblings who discover time is sweeter spent together. Extra stars for kawaii illustrations and cute detail, especially the cut-away house in the beginning and end, which felt like peeking into a doll house.

Themes: siblings/family, summer, imagination, adventure
Ages: K-2nd grade
Pub year: 2025

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s the second day of summer vacation, and a boy is already bored, so he lets his imagination run wild with what-ifs—all of which leave his little sister in the dust. Fortunately, her plan to combat boredom is a lot more practical and much more fun to do together. Fanciful illustrations fill the pages with lots of color and action, but the boy’s googly eyes are a bit disconcerting.

[Lesa Dierking · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice read. Good for a summer vacation read or to encourage creative thinking, dreaming of what someone might like to do that could be pretty fantastical.
I think I might try using this book with my storytime kids, and then doing a collaborative book making activity, with each of the kids drawing/coloring a page that shows "What if we...?" or "What if I...?".

[Miss Janis the Storytime Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

fine. With a smaller group, they'd be better able to see the pictures that Max is imagining so they could tell the story with me.

[Colorado Buck · Rating 3 out of 5]

book about a brother and sister who are bored in the summer. they come up with places to go and things to do because they are using their imagination. pretty good.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brother and sister learn the power of imagination and staying present in the moment as they navigate the long, open days of summer vacation.

[Lucy Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful picture book with a heartfelt message. The watercolor art and each page's format have such a strong presence, I loved looking at the details of every page.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it. Siblings and how they don’t always think of the other. Cute!!

[Lauren Millard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cute and I loved the illustrations!

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imaginative play and the joy in collaboration. As a younger sibling, I felt the sister's frustration so deeply. The merging of illustration styles makes for a visual treat as well.

[Rikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute - siblings. Boring summer.

[Carlos · Rating 4 out of 5]

On imagination, eager expectation, and allowing others in on the fun. Nicely illustrated. 3.5 stars rounded up for enjoyable book concept and design.

[Wallace Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful, imaginative illustrations and a sweet but believable sibling relationship. Fun to read aloud. A nice message.