That Always Happens Sometimes

April 1, 2024
For Max, the kid who narrates this story by Frank (Tomorrow Is Waiting), school mornings slide off track when distractions, like squirrels outside the window, fly in the face of a get-ready list. Per the title, it’s the kind of event “that always, always happens sometimes.” Max’s classroom to-do list (“keep hands to myself”) is often forgotten, and tennis balls quiet the feet of only Max’s chair (“I used to get in trouble for the sounds my chair makes, but now I only get in trouble for the sounds that I make”). Engaging questions hint at the child’s internality: “Have you ever abandoned your lunch because you were thinking about having an extra face under your hair like some Lego figures do?” In watercolor, ink, and pencil drawings with bold black lines, Steele (The Brilliant Ms. Bangle) includes lots of boisterous detail as Max’s teacher asks small groups of students, portrayed with various skin tones, to build a tower with “index cards, a twenty-four-inch piece of masking tape, and a pair of safety scissors.” It’s, at last, something that “has never happened before,” and Max’s creativity results in a classroom triumph—and a heady moment for a memorable voice. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Miriam Altshuler, DeFiore and Company. Illustrator’s agent: Erica Rand Silverman, Stimola Literary.

May 1, 2024
A day in the life of a well-meaning child who's somehow never far from trouble. Young Max spits out too-hot oatmeal and makes a huge mess, forgets to get dressed, and misses the bus after being distracted by the sight of squirrels devouring an old jack-o'-lantern outside. At school, Max has a long to-do list ("Keep hands to myself"; "Don't keep my sweatshirts here overnight"). Max's teacher, Ms. Fitzmorris, winks encouragingly when Max hands in homework, and when Max plays a leading role in a group project that involves building a tower out of index cards, she's thrilled. Frank writes in long, stream-of-consciousness sentences, capturing Max's boundless excitement. ("Have you ever wanted to play on everything so badly that the only solution is for your body to explode into a bunch of different pieces, which is impossible to do safely?") She offers a realistic yet sensitive portrait of a child who's often a little out of step with the rest of the world but who's undeniably perceptive and thoughtful--and who's lucky enough to have a sympathetic adult who sees that. Many neurodivergent readers will recognize themselves in Max. Steele's thick-lined watercolor, ink, and pencil illustrations brim with Max's unbridled energy; each scene feels almost like a story, featuring details for attentive viewers to pick out. Max presents Asian, while Ms. Fitzmorris is brown-skinned; the class is diverse. A deeply satisfying tale of a square peg who finds a way to triumph. (Picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from July 1, 2024
Grades K-3 *Starred Review* Max, an adorably chonky, bespectacled kid rocking Crocs and a middle part, is a little bit all over the place. He takes readers through a typical school day, addressing them directly with questions about his own experience: ""Have you ever wanted to play on everything so badly that the only solution is for your body to explode into a bunch of different pieces, which is impossible to do safely?"" As his frustrated parents and patient teacher try to keep him on track, Max goes from one scene to the next, effectively describing his hard-to-control body and mind through common sensory moments: eating and drinking, coloring, sitting in class, chewing on erasers. His somewhat chaotic nature is cleverly reflected in Steele's loose, sometimes wobbly linework, and the story's sweet humor in the cartoonish figures. Max is completely charming, and by setting the text in his innocent POV, Frank shows that a child who seems disruptive or inattentive is still sympathetic and may simply be neurodivergent--and delightful. ""Have you ever abandoned your lunch because you were thinking about having an extra face under your hair like some LEGO figures do?"" The story ends on a group-project scenario that is only solved through Max's unique, out-of-the-box creativity, reinforcing the message. Relatable for kid readers, nicely nostalgic for adults, and all-around wonderful.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2024
Max's life can be more than a little hectic. Whether getting distracted and missing the bus, forgetting to do every item on various lists of important things, or careening across the playground like a whirlwind, the protagonist's differently wired mind is always working overtime, which can lead to a lot of fun, or a lot of trouble -- or sometimes both. When you're someone like Max, "that always happens sometimes." Then one day Max is assigned to a group project where each team competes to build the tallest index-card tower, and it becomes the perfect opportunity for Max's creative mind to shine. Frank's first-person narration makes apt use of run-on sentences packed with many clauses and sentence fragments to simulate the frenetic energy of racing thoughts that make constant connections and leaps. Steele's watercolor and ink illustrations add to the zany vibe by depicting the characters' googly eyes with exaggeratedly large whites and tiny beady pupils. The strategic use of visual elements such as the gutter, perspective, and speech bubbles with stylized text reinforces Max's unique personality, perspective, and social relationships. A humorous and empathetic tribute to the neurodivergent kids out there who march to the beat of their own drums. Shenwei Chang

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

August 16, 2024

PreS-Gr 2-With boundless humor and heart, Max moves through his daily routine. While his day resembles that of most children his age, his accompanying commentary and questions reveal his own unique experience. With checklists and reminders from supportive adults to help keep him on task, Max still finds himself in moments where his curiosity and fast-paced mind can lead him to a situation that "always happens sometimes!" Max expresses the difficulties that come with his busy mind, like sitting still and quiet in class, alongside his awesome capacity to think outside the box and creatively problem-solve. Written with a rhythm reminiscent of Mercer Mayer's beloved "Little Critter" series and paired with colorful watercolor illustrations that are packed with playfulness, Max's energy and charm shine through. VERDICT An excellent book for exploring neurodiversity through an engaging story about one child's everyday experiences.-Sarah Pousty

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2024
Max's life can be more than a little hectic. Whether getting distracted and missing the bus, forgetting to do every item on various lists of important things, or careening across the playground like a whirlwind, the protagonist's differently wired mind is always working overtime, which can lead to a lot of fun, or a lot of trouble -- or sometimes both. When you're someone like Max, "that always happens sometimes." Then one day Max is assigned to a group project where each team competes to build the tallest index-card tower, and it becomes the perfect opportunity for Max's creative mind to shine. Frank's first-person narration makes apt use of run-on sentences packed with many clauses and sentence fragments to simulate the frenetic energy of racing thoughts that make constant connections and leaps. Steele's watercolor and ink illustrations add to the zany vibe by depicting the characters' googly eyes with exaggeratedly large whites and tiny beady pupils. The strategic use of visual elements such as the gutter, perspective, and speech bubbles with stylized text reinforces Max's unique personality, perspective, and social relationships. A humorous and empathetic tribute to the neurodivergent kids out there who march to the beat of their own drums.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)