Just One of Those Days by Richard Penny

Just One of Those Days is a gorgeous new picture book written by ABC’s own Richard Penny and illustrated by the very talented Harmke Wijbenga. Though it’s written for 4-9 year olds, it’ll appeal to any child (or adult) with a love for imaginative images.

The book tells the story of a father’s day out with his daughter. Though everything they decide to do seems to lead to one disappointment after another – a pony-ride gets rained out, the other people in the movie theatre are loud and obnoxious, their favourite restaurant is filled with quarreling families – at the end of the day they stumble across new friends an absolutely incredible fireworks display. They find they’re glad it turned out to be ‘one of those days’, and with drawings like these I can't help but agree.

The story is simply told and recognisable, and allows for a sequence of illustrations that are nothing short of stunning. Harmke Wijbenga illuminates each page with beautiful watercolour paintings that make the book a work of art in its own right. Each page would be at home on the wall of an art-gallery, but the illustrations also feature a delightful love for comic, curious detail that could bring out the inner-child in anyone.

Wijbenga’s scenes are extraordinarily detailed, and each page features a small host of competing narratives – during a car journey she gives us an x-ray view of the engine, in which the reader discovers a literal horse powering the vehicle via a spinning hamster-wheel, fed by a large bale of hay above it, and a bottle of Oat-Juice conveniently tucked away in the trunk; in the movie theatre dwarves play at cards under the floor and an octopus bangs away at a piano; at the park the reader watches the continuing hijinks of three naughty squirrels and an adventurous cat; and a small bicycle appears hidden on nearly ever page, minute and ridden by a rotating cast of creatures.

This is, simply put, a feast for the eyes – an utterly beautiful children’s book. If you have a child or know one, buy this book! It makes for a perfect stocking stuffer, or just a pleasant early-autumn treat.

The book is £6.99 from Blinding Books (take a look at the site for more stills from the book!), and is also available on Amazon. Shipping is free in the UK, and a fiver for everywhere else. Richard is happy to sign copies – if you’d like a dedication make a note at the Paypal checkout and he’ll add a personalized note before he sends it out. 25% of profits go towards Railway Children, a charity devoted to runaway and street children around the world.