TODAY IS THE DAY
By: Chelsea Lin Wallace
Illustrated by: Adam Rex
Published: July 28, 2026
Publisher: Chronicle Kids
Fiction
Chelsea’s books have made my Best Children’s Books list in 2023 and 2024, so I knew this was going to be a great one. Plus, Adam Rex as the illustrator means kids are in for a treat on the pages.
Have you ever thought about everything that happens in one day all over the world? You might be celebrating a birthday while others around the world are working, sleeping, shoveling snow, or walking on the beach. Over 22 million birthdays are happening in one day, and while thousands of babies are born on one day, just as many people pass away.
Did you know a mayfly only lives for one day? That one day is its whole lifetime. How many days will you have in your lifetime? Today is one of as many as 27,000 days that you get to live. Make sure you are making the best of it: noticing the clouds in the sky, the firsts and the lasts, the smiles and the frowns, and the stars in the sky. Chelsea makes sure that kids understand that it is up to us to celebrate each and every day and to not take anything for granted. When the day is gone, reflect and remember because memories last a lifetime.
Wallace’s lyrical prose combined with Rex’s illustrations and movement of words engage kids on the pages and make the story exciting. Rex takes care to include all ages, abilities, and races in his illustrations of people engaging in their days. From losing a tooth to a baby’s first step to a child’s first bike ride, he encourages us to celebrate the big and small moments of life.
The end of the book includes facts about what really does happen in a day all around the world. Read the paragraphs with your child and then find those occasions depicted throughout the book. Chelsea has also included activities with some of the fact paragraphs, such as making a paper airplane together or counting the beats of your heart.
Chelsea Lin Wallace is a children’s author, poet, and former elementary school teacher with a master’s in education. She is the author of A Home Named Walter and Ode to a Bad Day, among other books for children. When she isn’t busy writing for kids, she can be found cheering them on by coaching volleyball, directing musical theater, and encouraging them through their ups and downs. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, her daughter, Charlee, and her dog, Lucky. Learn more at chelsealinwallace.com.
Adam Rex is the author and illustrator of many beloved books, including the New York Times bestseller Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich. He has illustrated the work of many authors, including Jon Scieszka, Mac Barnett, Laura Park, Laurie Keller, Jeff Kinney, Lian Cho, Christopher Paul Curtis, and Paul Feig. He lives in Tucson, Arizona. See more about him at adamrex.com.
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Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to purchase through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.
Posted Under Adam Rex, Book Review, Chelsea Lin Wallace, Children's books, fiction