Coming July 2nd, 2024 from Two Lions; 38 pages
About the Author: “Paulette Bogan is an author and illustrator of many beloved children’s books. She wrote and illustrated Virgil & Owen, a recipient of a Mom’s Choice Award Gold Medal for Picture Books, and its sequel, Virgil & Owen Stick Together, as well as Goodnight Lulu, Lulu the Big Little Chick, Bossy Flossy, and more. She is the illustrator of the picture books Chicks and Salsa and Buffalo Wings, both written by Aaron Reynolds, and The Unsinkable Gus Davis, written by Laurie Trumble Davis. She lives in New York City with her family” (Bio from Bookshop.org).
Find Paulette Bogan on the following platforms:
As Fifi the raccoon knows, playing by yourself is not as fun as playing with other people. Unfortunately for her, Momma, Daddy, and Peapaw are very busy at the moment. They express their love, but they tell her they do not have time to play. Then, Fifi’s dog, Felix, inspires an idea: the Lots-of-Time Machine. After sneakily stealing some objects from right under her family’s noses, Fifi and Felix assemble the machine. Fifi sends Felix to gather the family, and she explains how the machine works: You step inside the contraption, thereby dedicating ten minutes of time to having fun within. This presents the raccoon family with an inviting opportunity for bonding. Alas, the machine might not be as stable as Fifi had thought. Does this mean the end of family time?
The Lots-of-Time Machine sounds like it would be some sort of futuristic machine built by Phineas and Ferb to slow down time. The one Fifi builds is more imaginative, powered with the magic of a child’s imagination. In building her elaborate fort using a creative combination of house materials, Fifi finds a way to play by herself (and with Felix, who is there to play with the whole time) while her family is busy. I would have liked for this to have been emphasized in The Lots-of-Time Machine. Family time is an absolutely essential thing to set aside time for, but every family also has to find a balance between work and play. Because Fifi’s family rejects her other activity ideas, the story also subtly suggests that adults do not want to spend time with their kids because their kids have not done anything interesting enough to garner their attention. It held more of a meaningful message for parents than for kids, encouraging adults to take at least ten minutes out of their day to play with their children. While the illustrations are clearly done by a very capable artist, they did not stand out to me as particularly noteworthy, especially in comparison to Bogan’s charming work in Owen & Virgil.
The Lots-of-Time Machine releases on July 2nd, 2024.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Two Lions for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Abby Ballas, Pine Reads Review Writer & Editor