This Was Not the Plan

THIS WAS NOT THE PLAN is a sweet picture book about friendship and the feeling of everything not going the way you want it to. Spike the bear and Roscoe the rabbit are heading out on a camping trip... a trip that is going to be perfect, as Spike has just the right plan! However, things do not go as he expected with mishaps along their hike. They also miss the sunset he wanted to watch. Setting up a tent in the dark is not easy, but they get it done and plan to see the sunrise in the morning. However, when they look out of the tent, their view is blocked by another animal!

When Spike shares his frustrations, Roscoe points out all the fun and laughs they have had along the way. The animals invite them to join, and they get to see the beautiful sunrise afterall.

What I loved: This is a sweet picture book about handling when things don't go your way and appreciating the detours life may give you. Roscoe juxtaposes Spoke all along the way with all the joy of appreciating things as they are and not worrying as much about the expectations you held. These dual perspectives help to demonstrate that there are options from your vantage point, and readers can choose to see the good parts. In the story, that is spending time with friends and having some laughs along the way. This is a great message for young readers, who can appreciate the sentiments.

The illustrations are lovely, particularly towards the end with a beautiful sunrise that the reader gets to enjoy with the characters. Their friendship and personalities easily come across when reading and add to the fun of the story. The font is clear and easy to read throughout, with the text placed carefully over lighter colors, so that it is easy for older eyes to see.

Final verdict: THIS WAS NOT THE PLAN is a sweet picture book about friendship and resilience that young readers will enjoy!

Spike the bear has a whole amazing trip planned for him and his friend, Roscoe the rabbit. But oh dear, from the very beginning, things don't go as planned, and Spike is ready to call it a disaster. However, Roscoe's relentless optimism helps him see the bright side and the friends make many happy memories together.

It's colorful and bright and full of spring time camping adventures. Feeling lost? Maybe the map was upside down. Hard to have hot chocolate when the fire won't start, but chocolate milk is just as tasty; and the hammock would have been fun, but so is flopping in a nice pile of leaves! Spike and Roscoe are a great duo, and the story is mainly full of their dialogue as they bounce ideas off each other, demonstrating how friends can have different personalities and get along in spite of, or because of, those differences.

Recommend for lovers of grumpy bears, happy rabbits, friendship stories, and spending a night in the great outdoors.