Mila and Her Friends

"A great day of monster play! Mila, who splits her time between her mom’s and her dad’s houses, asks if her friends Sam and Liza can play at her dad’s house after school. Once Sam’s and Liza’s parents agree, Daddy picks all three of them up, dubs them “little monsters,” then carries the monster theme throughout the afternoon. Daddy cooks monster pancakes with strawberry jam and provides glittery hair gel for making “monster hair” (which Daddy also uses), and then they all dress up like monsters. When the mommies return, four monster and Mila’s exuberant dog greet them at the door. Simple and utterly cheerful, the story offers a positive representation of a single-parent household, with a dad who is fully engaged in his child’s life and completely invested in participating in her fantasy life. Nijs’ illustrations, similar to the Canadian Caillou books and TV series, feature vibrant colors and simple backgrounds. While the adults look distinct from one another, the children’s simple facial features are so similar that complexion is their primary distinguishing feature. Mila and her father are Black, Liza and her mother are light-skinned, and Sam and his mother are brown-skinned; Sam’s mother wears a headscarf. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A simple and fun story that beckons kids to imagine." - Kirkus Reviews