Published: 2nd January 2024
Publisher: Lake Press
Illustrator: Heath McKenzie
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars
Everybody at Molly’s kindergarten knows that you don’t always get what you want. Maybe you don’t get your favourite coloured pencil. You might not get the most comfortable cushion. Or maybe you miss out on getting your favourite cup at snack time. That’s just life; you get what you get and you don’t get upset!
Heath McKenzie coming in with another wonderful book. I like his illustrations but I also like when he pens his own books. This is a fun story about teaching readers that sometimes you get what you get and you don’t get upset. Sometimes your favourite chair is being used, sometimes the last chocolate milk is taken and you have to have strawberry. Sometimes someone else got to a toy before you. It’s ok.
I love that in this classroom there is a situation called the yellow cup situation. Specifically there is a fight for a single yellow cup which is a great example that even when you can be calm and diplomatic about some things, there is still a chance to go absolutely buck wild and fight for a single yellow cup because each kid believes it has special significance.
The illustrations are a fun design and are mainly bold black and white designs with smatterings of colour throughout. The kids have cheeky faces and unique expressions, McKenzie beautifully bringing the story to life with simple detail and a lot of fun.
I loved seeing this classroom rule being used in other aspects of these characters lives and how they have a united understanding that this is the way the world is sometimes. It’s a great representation of how people can be taught that sometimes life isn’t fair but not in a disheartening way, more in a way that lets them know that despite not getting exactly what they want, it doesn’t take away from the experience while also acknowledging it can still be a bit disappointing.
It’s a great story that shows how the kids in Molly’s class understand that sometimes you get what you want, sometimes you get something that is just as good even if it’s different, and sometimes you get something you didn’t want. A great lesson that everyone needs to take to heart. We can all learn from Molly’s kindergarten class.
You can purchase You Get What You Get and You Don’t Get Upset via the following
