Squish & Squeam’s Daily Routine
by Dee Rand ; illustrated by Imani Maco
Rand’s musical characters turn their daily routines into a performance in this children’s picture book with illustrations by Maco.
Squish and Squeam are adorable twin sloths who love to sing. The story follows a day in the life of the siblings and their mother, featuring daily routines told through song. Beginning with “Good morning, good morning / get ready to start your day. / Good morning, good morning, / Let’s get up to play!” and ending with “Bedtime… bedtime… / let’s sing a sleepy song. / Bedtime… bedtime… / Sweet dreams / all night long,” the characters have a fun and unique song for nearly every occasion, including breakfast, bathtime, and playtime. The book was inspired by the author’s own children, according to the dedication, and it offers a realistic but consistently endearing look at an average day for youngsters. The story itself is basic, but its slow pace and repetition will likely work well to calm young readers. Maco’s full-color cartoon illustrations are colorful and eye-catching, and they’re sure to draw the attention of preschoolers. Overall, the cute, fuzzy characters and easy-to-follow plot will make it an ideal bedtime story.
An enjoyable and colorful tale that may have young readers wishing for musical accompaniment.