All in a Day

The baker is already hard at work when the clock strikes seven in the morning, and residents of this building start to wake up. This story takes place in a three-story apartment building with a clock on its face to carry readers through the day as they become familiar with the residents and how they spend their days. Families eat meals together. Children leave for school. Parents leave for their jobs or for other errands. As the day goes on, the barber opens his shop in the ground floor of the building. On other pages nearby shops are shown and readers see the clockmaker, an artist, and a musician in their shops. People come and go through the day and return to their homes as evening comes and on to bedtime and beyond.

Author and illustrator Chihiro Takeuchi has created a charming, interactive picture book that both listeners and those who read to them will love. Every spread moves readers through the day with the clock and with the change in light and the movement of people. Each spread also asks listeners to find and sometimes count various items in the illustrations. This is a sweet and fun book.