Upside-Down Friday

Description

Hugo the monkey doesn't like Upside-Down Fridays. The day is the wrong way round; lunchtime is at morning teatime, and all his classmates' smiles look like frowns. How will Hugo learn to tame the butterflies in his tummy and find the fun to be had in change? Upside-Down Friday tells the story of the day Hugo embraces the unexpected. Walking to school, anxious thoughts swirl in his head. When he arrives, the day and his routine are as upside-down as he had feared. However, Maddie the giraffe knows how to help, and reassures Hugo that things won't always be this scary. With this small gesture of friendship and understanding, Hugo begins to feel braver, reflecting how making new friendships, helping others, and accepting change can help reduce childhood anxiety and build resilience. With its universal animal-kingdom setting, the story has likable characters who will resonate with all pre-schoolers and lower primary-aged school children who feel nervous about change. The emotive language and unique 'upside-down' illustrations make Upside-Down Friday relatable, immersive and accessible; an excellent resource for opening the conversation about anxiety and teaching strategies to cope with it. Young children's lives are full of big, scary changes like going to school and making new friends. Help them to build emotional resilience, and find the fun in days that don't go to plan!

Lana Spasevski is a children's author who writes stories that tap into the curious world of children. Her debut picture book, Max's Dinosaur Feet, was inspired by the beautiful chaos of life with a young family. Her work has been longlisted in several competitions. Nicky Johnston is a children's author, illustrator, educator and speaker. She visits schools and presents at workshops and conferences, sharing her journey, promoting emotional resilience and raising awareness of mental health issues.

"We all need a plan to deal with a bad day. Hugo hates upside-down Fridays but with friends, he finds a way to cope. Very appealing illustrations with a gentle palette." -- Pinerolo "For those who can adapt easily to change, it is often difficult to understand the anxiety of those who can't, so as well as supporting the routine-dependent by acknowledging their problem, this gentle story helps the others understand." -- The Bottom Shelf "a beautiful story with cheeky watercolour illustrations ... based around building emotional resilience by facing the 'butterflies in your stomach' Hugo learns that even though sometimes things are different and a little bit scary, once you try, somehow everything comes out right side up." -- Blue Wolf Reviews "As a former teacher and parent, I really appreciated a common childhood anxiety being covered in this cute story about facing fears and building resilience." -- Love Four Learning "there are so many parents who will be able to relate to this delightful book" -- Can You Tell Me A Story "a wonderful book for both parents and teachers to explore adapting to change" -- Buzz Words "The stunning illustrations by the talented Nicki Johnston make the story float. Her perfect choice of delicate colours and the use of animals as characters, adorn the pages with expressive images, whether upside-down or right-side-up." -- Kids' Book Review "The characters are likeable with Hugo's emotions being relatable to young listeners alongside the illustrations, which together will support children's understanding of their emotions and some strategies in coping with change." -- Swings and Roundabouts magazine (ECC) "A relatable story for young and old about the importance of emotional wellbeing ... and a useful resource to help guide children through anxiety when things don't go according to plan" -- Reading Time "This is an endearing story, perfect for children who struggle with change in routine and anxiety." -- Rascals and Rainbows "A brilliantly written picture book that highlights the topic of overcoming anxiety in children and learning to cope with change." -- Little C's Reading Corner Dealing with change is difficult for all of us, but little Hugo is having an especially tough time- it's upside-down Friday at school. All his classes and breaks are different because its sports day but luckily, he finds a friend who helps him feel calm and enjoy the day anyway. A sweet little story of friendship overcoming anxiety. * The Space magazine (ECC) * "This is a clever book about how school timetables are all over the place on Fridays and how this can be hard for little ones who like routine." -- OH Creative Day "This newcomer from EK Books is SO totally relatable; who among us hasn't felt a touch of anxiety or angst when we're knocked out of our rituals or routines?" -- Barbara Gruener, Corner on Character I enjoyed seeing different characters dealing in their own ways with Hugo's various emotions. The book is a good reflection of the ways people respond to worrying situations, and to those who are anxious. Another beautifully produced hardback book by EK Books that doesn't disappoint .A good story and a great resource for anyone who has small, anxious people in their circles. * Kids Books NZ *