Hello, friends! Our book today is Amos McGee Misses the Bus, written by Philip C. Stead and illustrated by Erin E. Stead, a long-awaited sequel to the pair’s much-beloved A Sick Day for Amos McGee.

Elderly zookeeper Amos McGee is too excited to sleep – he has planned a lovely outing for his animal friends at the zoo, and his mind is filled with last-minute preparations. When morning comes, Amos is so tired that he nods off while waiting for his teapot to boil, and ends up missing his bus and losing his satchel and favorite hat. Getting to the zoo late, he apologizes to the animals for letting them down, and is so overwhelmed with exhaustion and disappointment that he falls asleep amid his duties. Seeing that their beloved caretaker needs some caretaking of his own, his faithful zoo pals are happy to step in.

A heartwarming and wholesome tale. The themes of mutual care are similar to A Sick Day, with a slight tweak. Amos’s guilt over disappointing the animals is palpable, yet the animals are more concerned that Amos clearly needs rest after his hard work and sleepless night. It’s a subtle message that we are worthy of love and care even when we make mistakes, and it’s incredibly touching. The soft, delicate illustrations are impossibly charming, and give a gentleness to even massive creatures like the elephant and rhino; a subplot revolving around tortoise is hilariously slow-paced and features a delightful payoff. The length is perfect for an elementary storytime, and JJ adored it. This is a worthy sequel to its classic predecessor, and a beautifully sweet story in its own right – we highly recommend it. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)