Tomorrow Most Likely
By Regan McMahon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Boy predicts next day's adventures in offbeat bedtime book.
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What's the Story?
On the title spread of TOMORROW MOST LIKELY, we see a brown-skinned, curly-haired boy in bed as a female parent or caregiver (whose face is not shown) sits close by. Turn the page and the first words are: "Tomorrow most likely/there will be a sky. And chances are it will be blue." Turn the page again and find a squirrel in a city park and the words, "Tomorrow most likely/ there will be a squirrel. And chances are his name is Stu." Quickly we see that this is a story of both realistic and imaginative predictions. As the story continues, the boy leaves his home and wanders about the city making observations that fit his predictions -- including the unpredictable, like meeting a fantasy creature that's half bird and half snake. There's a through line with a spotted bug who's missing -- and worried about -- his friend Stu, the squirrel. The story wraps up on a reassuring note: "Tomorrow most likely/ will be a great day/ because you are in it,/ and Stu is okay."
Is It Any Good?
This offbeat tale of a boy going to bed and imagining what tomorrow may bring is a delightful take on the predictable and unpredictable things in our everyday lives. Some things we can expect -- like a blue sky, a plane flying over, kids playing in the park -- and some things will surprise us. "Tomorrow most likely/ you'll see something strange./ You'll hear something odd./ You'll touch something gooey./ You'll meet Cousin Todd."
The playful rhymes and Lane Smith's whimsical illustrations move the story along in a jaunty, upbeat rhythm. Great for read-aloud.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about bedtime rituals. How is the one in Tomorrow Most Likely similar to or different from yours? What do you think about when you go to bed -- today or tomorrow? Do you read a book first?
When you think about tomorrow, are you excited about a world of possibilities and surprises, or do you worry about what might happen? Who can you talk to about your worries? Who can you tell what you're looking forward to?
Why do you think the writer and artist put a fanciful creature with a bird's head and a serpent's tail in the boy's otherwise realistic city? What odd thing have you seen on a walk in your town?
Book Details
- Author: Dave Eggers
- Illustrator: Lane Smith
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Science and Nature
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Chronicle Books
- Publication date: April 5, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 3 - 5
- Number of pages: 40
- Available on: Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated: May 28, 2019
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