Ode to a Bad Day

Ages 5 to 8, Grades K to 3

OH BAD DAY! A hilariously dramatic series of odes to the little bumps in our days, perfect for any kid dealing with a not-so-good day.

Oh Too Much Milk in My Cereal!

Soggy, squishy! Boggy, mushy!

You turned my crispy into gushy!

Sometimes the small disappointments and inconveniences in kids' days can feel much bigger than they are. And when they start multiplying . . . oh, what a bad day it can become! Told in a series of dramatic odes to a day’s annoyances, Ode to a Bad Day lets children and caregivers alike find the humor and compassion in the days that could have gone better—and encourages readers to look forward to a better day . . . tomorrow.

TIMELESS TOPIC: Classic in sensibility but with fresh, sharp wit, this book touches on a truly universal topic with an authentic voice young readers will recognize and identify with. The struggles of the main character immediately capture the drama of childhood without making the world seem totally hopeless and antagonistic.

READ ALOUD: This picture book is riddled with rhyme and chock-full of humor in every stanza—perfect for read-aloud occasions, bedtime, or any moment a kid needs cheering up on a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

SELF-RELIANCE: In celebrating frustration, tedium, and boredom, this book also emphasizes the value of remaining positive facing life’s various difficulties. You can be upset and still be a regular person; you can have a bad day and still rhyme about it.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL REASSURANCE: Perfect for kids who are nervous about starting school or struggling with any less-than-ideal moments in life.

EDUCATIONAL INFO INCLUDED: After reading through the fun, rhyming narrative, kids can read on to learn more about what an ode is, how to make one, and even have the opportunity to create their own.

Perfect for:Great read-aloud option for parents, teachers, and librarians looking for funny kids' booksStarting-school or back-to-school book for young readersReassuring book for kids who experience anxiety or struggle to get through bad daysFans of humor, children's poetry, and books that celebrate big feelingsReaders of popular children's books like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten, Cranky Bear, and The Seven Silly Eaters

About the Author

Chelsea Lin Wallace is a proud member of SCBWI, CBW-LA, and the 12×12 Challenge, and has her master's in education. She worked in the digital marketing world before becoming an educator and through teaching young children creative writing, she realized she needed to take her passion seriously and pursue her dream professionally. She lives in Los Angeles, California, with her family.

Hyewon Yum is an author and illustrator of many children’s books, including Last Night, which received a Fiction Honorable Mention for the BolognaRagazzi Award and the Golden Kite Award; There Are No Scary Wolves, winner of the Society of Illustrators’ Founder’s Award; The Twins’ Blanket, a Junior Library Guild selection; and Mom, It’s My First Day of Kindergarten!, recipient of the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award and a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year. She lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York.