Common Sense Media Review
By Susan Faust
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Touching tale about a girl, her daddy, and an unwanted move.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In Anything, a small girl describes Daddy's efforts to ease her adjustment to an unwanted move. The action unfolds over one day, their first day in a new apartment. Right off, Daddy presents his unnamed daughter with a favorite chocolate cake to celebrate apartment 3B's zero birthday. Then Daddy says she can have three birthday wishes. "Anything," he declares. The girl has a few secret wishes, but the ones she asks for include "a rainbow for my new room" (Daddy paints the wall); "the biggest slice of pizza in the whole world" (Daddy serves pizza for dinner); and finally that "today is not Thursday" or bath day (she misses her old tub). Bedtime goes well, but, in the night, the siren from a passing firetruck wakes the girl. Daddy arrives to comfort her. "I wish I had one more Anything," she confides in him, "because I want to go home." Daddy demonstrates through a pretend game that they are home, showing her that home is where they are together. A favorite breakfast awaits in the morning with Daddy fulfilling yet another wish and then some!
Is It Any Good?
A single parent family, an unwanted move, and a gradual adjustment with the help of an adoring dad will endear readers to this playful and poignant picture book. Daddy helps his unnamed daughter deal with a necessary, though unwelcome move in Anything. As narrator, the girl's voice is just right, and Daddy's just-right sensitivity and responsiveness allows her to practice resilience, accepting change with growing grace and good humor. Daddy uses imaginative games to ease his daughter beyond a profound sense of loss. The squiggly ink art lightens the mood as the girl recounts her one-day journey of discovery that home is where she and Daddy are together. This is an inspired and inspiring look at a loving relationship, mutual trust, and the capacity to adjust to new circumstances.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what it's like to start over in a new place like the family in Anything. Have you ever moved or started at a new school or with new people? If so, how did you feel? What helped?
Change is part of life. Have you ever dealt with an unwanted change? What happened? How did things turn out? Did you learn anything from that experience?
This is a story about new beginnings. Can you think of a new beginning in your life from the past or an upcoming one?
In the story, Daddy shows empathy for his daughter, trying to ease her through unwanted change while she calls on courage in accepting his playful efforts. Have you ever felt empathy for someone in need? Have you ever shown the courage to get yourself through difficulty?
The girl in the story is able to let Daddy know how she is feeling. How do you communicate your feelings with family and friends?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Gracey Zhang
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Adventures
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Empathy
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Chronicle Books
- Publication date : April 29, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 48
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : ALA Best and Notable Books
- Last updated : March 19, 2026
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