Today at School: With Yesterday and Tomorrow

In this heavily allegorical picture book written by Young, animal siblings Tomorrow, a bird, and Yesterday, a bear, navigate dual perspectives on their first school day. The sisters’ differences are immediately on display as they head off: “Tomorrow walked fast,” but “Yesterday walked backwards. She liked to see where they had been.” During circle time, Yesterday shares “a tiny treasure” from cubhood, while bird Tomorrow describes “a big dream” of days to come. Their conflicting sensibilities build to a head at lunch, where Tomorrow daydreams “about all the things she would do if she didn’t have to wait for Yesterday.” Just in time, a new friend appears: Today, a fox, proves just the in-the-moment companion the siblings need. Kurilla’s bright-eyed digital renderings include adorable animalian vignettes, employing thick marker-like outlining that provides an apt grade school feel. Ages 4–8. (June)