Too Cold Marigold

by Sharon van der Laak, Amanda Walther (illustrator)

Marigold does not want to come out from under her blanket on this cold winter morning. “It’s too cold!” yells Marigold.

Marigold tries to warm up by putting on a few extra layers of clothing, but soon… “It’s too warm!" How will she get it just right?

In this children's picture book, Marigold tunes into her body as she explores finding the right clothing to get her body warm… but not too warm! Marigold’s two moms and little brother look on while Marigold tries on different layers to figure it out. Too Cold Marigold is perfect for kids learning to dress for the weather, families with two moms, and anyone wishing to add more representation of LGBTQ+ families to their children's book collections.

25 pages, Paperback

Published January 18, 2024

About the author

Sharon van der Laak is a Canadian author and mom of two young and curious bookworms. She loves creating narratives that inspire both giggles and problem-solving in young children. As a parent in a two-mom family, Sharon is always on the lookout for children's books with LGBTQ+ representation and is delighted to have added to the selection with her first published book, Too Cold Marigold. Sharon looks forward to continuing to create children's books reflecting LGBTQ+ families.

Reviews

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that seems to be about the social message, just as much as it is about any kind of plot or adventure. It concerns a girl who alternates between far too cold, and far too hot – the winter's morning is too cold, then her drink too hot, then the kitchen floor gives her the chills so she puts too many clothes on, then the cereal milk causes goosebumps, etc. The social engineering side of thing both reinforces and counters the idea of finding a happy medium, as the family concerned is built of people from opposing ends of the colour spectrum and at the same time the same gender. Can our heroine, her brother and her mixed-race couple of mothers find the ideal kind of heat to enjoy a day out in the snow? I mean I'm not gonna spoil the book and reveal anything, but you can only admit the answer may not be the most important issue for the creators here.

[Kate Parizeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a sweet story about a little kid who is too cold, too hot, too cold... Her moms support her and gently help her learn to self-regulate. It's a lovely family story, and the illustrations are beautiful. My 7-year-old and 2-year-old both identified with the story, and loved looking through the book!

[Lisa Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was hilarious because I could totally relate. I don't want to get out of bed in the morning and then I put on too many clothes and I'm sweating and I turn on the fan and then I need a jacket... This little girl is even more extreme than I am, and I was giggling at her. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

[S.A. Krishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice cute book for older children
Marigold finds that it is too cold and does not want to wake up at all. But she tries to warm up and tries to find all her clothes and the different sensations of her body.
Nice illustrations and simple story for older children.

[Melissa Berney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just what I was looking for when trying to help my daughter learn how to dress appropriately for the weather! It combines descriptive language and adorable illustrations with a relatable tale that makes me smile every time.
Bonus points for just happening to feature a multiracial family with two moms!