Kate and Nate Are Running Late!

PreS-Gr 2–This rhyming story humorously details the dreaded weekday-morning routine and its attendant chaos. Nate is the younger of two siblings who live in the suburbs with their mother, Kate. Nate enters her bedroom and flings himself on the bed, alarm clock in hand. They are late! While the retro-style gouache illustrations are vibrant and energetic due to the sophisticated use of complementary colors, large areas of flat hues, and layouts that convey a sense of animation, the writing doesn’t entirely deliver. Lines with internal rhyme and alliteration like “They’re almost ready, feeling steady,/wearing coats and big backpacks” produce a singsong effect that’s too syncopated for the story line. Other lines are simply a mouthful, which could indicate the chock-full schedule, but are not much fun to chew. Nevertheless, there is a lot going for this race-out-the-door plot with its series of obstacles and mini-victories. The illustrated subtext of the dog’s and the two cats’ morning routine is a hoot. One cat hiding under the sheet as Nate makes his bed, another slyly making off with Nate’s sister Maddie’s missing socks, the dog successfully begging for Nate’s waffle, and many other clever pet antics will win the hearts of young readers. There is also a surprise twist at the end, which asks adults to reflect on the wisdom of our bustling, overburdened schedules.–Sara Lissa Paulson, American Sign Language and English Lower School, New York City