Haus-hold Picture Book Review: Too Much! An Overwhelming Day

A much-needed book about sensory overload

Storytime Sprint is one of my favorite things about the KidLit community. If you're unfamiliar, Storytime Sprint invites authors to read their debut picture book live on zoom. Listeners then have 24 hours to "sprint" over to Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble to write a review and be entered to win a prize, usually a copy of the book or a critique.

Recently, the hosts, Andi and Ryann, have starting offering "Storytime Sprint Seconds", where authors on their 2nd book do a reading. They feature 2 authors and double the time listeners have to complete their reviews. This is where my son and I were lucky enough to hear Jolene Gutiérrez read her beautiful book Too Much: An Overwhelming Day.

There's something so special about hearing an author read their book to you. Every word, every syllable, every pause is conveyed exactly as they intended, the way they imagined when they wove the words together, and it's a different experience entirely from reading it yourself. I loved having that opportunity.

The book tackles a sensitive issue in a gentle rhyme, with language that is comforting and evokes empathy and tenderness. With colorful and inviting illustrations by Angel Chang, the story leads the reader through the emotional journey of an overwhelming day- from the first light that's too bright, to the slowed-down peace of refocused alone time.

...even if your child does not have sensory processing issues, this book is a great way to introduce the idea that not everyone thinks or feels the same way.

Synopsis

Bright light, loud noise, itchy, tight clothes... when everything feels like just too much and the day becomes overwhelming, it's time to take a pause to slow down and breathe. Back matter includes information about sensory systems, a note to caregivers and educators, and how to create a sensory diet.

My Big Kid’s Honest Review:

What my Kids Loved: My son loved the illustrations the most, especially the little "feelings" in the endpapers. He also was really able to connect and empathize with this character, understanding what it feels like to be too itchy or bombarded by noise and colors. But his favorite thing, by far, was hearing Jolene read it aloud to him at Storytime Sprint!

What I Loved: As a mom, I wish I'd had this book when my son was much younger. I was a young-ish new mom and didn't understand why certain shirts or socks or sounds or stores were too much for him. This book helps caregivers and educators meet kids with sensory processing issues right where they are and help them reach a place of peace and calm.

As a writer, I fell in love with the rhyme! It's playful and bouncing, but slows in all the right places and really lends itself to how the story is told. I also really appreciated the low word count. When I think of economy of words, a book like this is a shining example of how to pack the most punch with exactly what's needed- no more, no less.

My favorite lines:

When feelings go

on overload,

I pause and breathe

and all is...

slowed.

Final thoughts: Kids need more books that help them empathize with others. So even if your child does not have sensory processing issues, this book is a great way to introduce the idea that not everyone thinks or feels the same way.

You can purchase Too Much! An Overwhelming Day from Abrams Books or from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other retailers- but don't forget to check your local independent bookstore first!