• Age: 3 to 7
• Grade: p to 2

A funny, offbeat story about how disruptive change can be — even if it’s a holiday!

Early one morning, a strange visitor arrives — a visitor whose name is Holiday. “I’ll be taking over for you today!” Holiday tells Monday. And before long, Holiday has met the other days, even Saturday and Sunday, who usually sleep all week.

With each introduction, Monday becomes more and more upset. She is used to starting the week, and she’d like to keep it that way. When Holiday announces how much fun he’s having, and that he’d like to stay, Wednesday and Friday admit that they are a little worried, too. Meanwhile, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday are completely smitten by this exciting new day.

Finally, Monday (with Wednesday and Friday in tow), asks Holiday to kindly pack his things and go. Then just in time, Tuesday comes up with a solution that will work for everyone.

Natalie Nelson’s ingenious characterizations of the days of the week will delight readers young and old, as will her story that pokes fun at how set in our ways we can be and how we might instead choose to be open to change and embrace the unexpected.

Key Text Features
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Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.6
Acknowledge differences in the points of view of characters, including by speaking in a different voice for each character when reading dialogue aloud.

NATALIE NELSON’s illustrations have appeared in many publications, including the New York Times and the Washington Post. She is the illustrator of The King of the Birds by Acree Graham Macam, which Booklist proclaimed “nothing short of charming.” She has also illustrated A Storytelling of Ravens by Kyle Lukoff, which received starred reviews from Kirkus and Foreword, and Uncle Holland by JonArno Lawson, described by School Library Journal as “sophisticated yet playful.” Natalie lives in Atlanta.

Natalie Nelson's profile page

A unique and enjoyable story about conflict resolution.

School Library Journal

Holiday! makes for quietly kooky and witty reading.

Fab Book Reviews Blog

Natalie Nelson's ingenious characterizations of the days of the week will delight children ages 3-7 … Charmingly illustrated throughout, Holiday! is especially recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections.

Midwest Book Review

The teacher-friendly theme of cooperation and emotive characters suggest a good fit for all settings.

Kirkus Reviews