Druthers

by Matt Phelan

With warmth and humor, award-winning author-illustrator Matt Phelan follows a child as she leads her daddy on some rainy-day flights of fancy.

It’s raining and raining and raining, and Penelope is bored. "What would you do if you had your druthers?" asks her daddy. Well, if Penelope had her druthers, she’d go to the zoo. Or be a cowgirl. Or a pirate captain who sails to the island of dinosaurs, or flies away on a rocket to the moon. If Penelope had her druthers, she’d go off on amazing adventures — but then again, being stuck inside may not be so bad if your daddy is along for the ride!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Family, Fiction, Kids, Westerns

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 9, 2014

About the author

Matt Phelan made his illustrating debut with Betty G. Birney’s The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster). Since then he has illustrated many picture books and novels for young readers, including Where I Live by Eileen Spinelli (Dial), Very Hairy Bear by Alice Schertle (Harcourt), and The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron (Simon & Schuster) winner of the 2007 Newbery Medal.

Matt studied film and theater in college with the goal of one day writing and directing movies. But his first love was always drawing, and the more he saw the wonderful world of children’s books, the more he realized that this was the place for him. Being an illustrator is in many ways like being an actor, director, cinematographer, costumer, and set designer rolled into one.

Matt writes: “I have a fascination with the decade of the 1930s. The movies were learning to talk (and in the case of King Kong, growl), the music was beginning to swing, and the nation was thrown into tremendous turmoil. On one hand, you see a level of suffering documented in the dramatic and gritty photography of Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans. On the other hand, consider what the American public was flocking to see in the movie theaters: the glamour and grace of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing in a series of perfect musicals. For my first book as both writer and illustrator (coming in 2009 by Candlewick Press), I naturally gravitated to this complex decade, specifically the strange world of the Dust Bowl.”

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ordered this because I was also ordering Phelan's new (2016) Snow White, and had read his other historical fiction books, mostly for tweens (with all ages appeal). This is a picture book for the very young, with a fairly typical focus on how (poor folks, the 99%) can, in the absence of actually going on a pirate's ship, actually invent the life of a pirate with wooden spoons for swords, old sheets for flags and just making things up.

A little girl says she is bored; Dad asked what would be her "druthers" and she makes a list of adventures, which they spend the day inventing at home. Later illustrations of Dad as exhausted are for parents reading it to the younguns, and his reaction to her "druthers" to do the day all over again tomorrow are for parent readers, too. I like Phelan's drawing and watercoloring so much!

[Lee]

I think I expected something else because I'd never heard that term used before, but it is a sweet little story. My brain just got weirdly hung up on that title.

[Henry Herz · Rating 4 out of 5]

DRUTHERS begins with a girl, Penelope, suffering rain-induced boredom. That’s a common picture book scenario, but none the worse for wear. Luckily for Penelope, her kind and cooperative father is there to participate in a range of imagined adventures, from going to the zoo, to going to the moon. Without giving spoilers, suffice it to say that Penelope and her dad are not bored.

The story arc is very simple, and Penelope doesn’t have to strive to resolve her dilemma. Her dad asks her a question, and she responds imaginatively. We don’t really get to know her. That said, the story is filled with imagination and love.

The illustrations are the book’s greatest strength. Matt Phelan’s style is perfect for picture books. He uses image size, from spot art to full-bleed spread, to accentuate the story. Many of the image backgrounds are in cooler, muted colors, helping the characters pop on the page. The backgrounds feature interesting and sometimes humorous details. For example, near the end, they sit in Penelope’s room, exhausted and disheveled, in a sea of toys that relate to the adventures recently shared. Most importantly, the images convey the sweetness of the two characters.

Best line: “The pirate ship would also be a rocket.”

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story about a father who stays home with his daughter Penelope on a rainy day. Penelope is sad she has to stay home, so her father asks her where she'd rather be, and pretends to act out being at the zoo, on the moon, being a cowboy, etc. The story was cute and the plot was nice, but I didn't think this book was exceptional. We probably will not purchase it for the library. I love Matt Phelan's illustration style however, and have read many books by him recently.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

What do you do when it's a rainy day and you're completely bored? This story follows Penelope as she is bored out of her mind and would rather be outside. With the help of her dad, she learns about "druthers" which are "what you would rather do if you could do anything at all". This sweet little imaginative story opens up a child's mind to playing make believe with her dad and she learns spending time with him is much more fun than any other "druthers".

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my lord, this was such a precious book. It's cute, and engaging, and I absolutely ADORE the art style. This is the exact kind of book I would've made my dad read to me again and again and again when I was little. Delightful.

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a little trouble getting into this one.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a story of a rainy day and imagination.

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable

[Steph]

Turn/Level: 2/2

Father/Daughter, Rain, Imagination, Playtime

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute picture book about a little girl's imaginative play with her father on a rainy day. The illustrations have lots of great details, and the story is warm and sweet.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It wouldn’t stop raining and Penelope was bored. Her dad asked her What would she do if she had hers druthers, What would she rather do? Penelope had lots of fun ideas. She and her dad had a wonderful afternoon. Fabulous Illustrations for this wonderful story.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Druthers is a sweet story of how a little girl and her father spend a rainy afternoon turning their home upside down with their imaginative play. The father is peacefully reading a book (in a clean and spotless room) when his young daughter states the inevitable, "I'm bored". Her boredom quickly flees when he asks, "If you had your druthers, what would you do?" Their imagination takes flight as they explore one adventure after another. At the end the house may look like a tornado swept through, but the father and daughter discover the best druthers of all! Phelan's soft and beautiful illustrations are perfect for both a rainy day and to depict the love between father and daughter.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Matt Phelan's Druthers. I loved how Penelope and her Dad played together on a rainy day. I loved turning the pages to see what she wanted to do next. Each activity was a "druther" of course. For example, wanting to go to the zoo, wanting to be a cowgirl, wanting to go to the moon, etc. Each druther leads to a fun opportunity for this father and daughter to explore together. This is a book that celebrates imaginative play. It also celebrates family! (I suppose you could also say the book handles disappointments as well.) The book is very sweet. I definitely recommend it.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of practically anything Matt Phelan does, so my 5 star rating may be slightly bias. However, the easy charm of this title is undeniable. As is the relationship depicted between father and daughter as the girl realizes that maybe rain isn't such a bad thing because that means she can play with her dad. Imagination and relationship are close at play here and they get on together extremely well.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little girl and her father discuss her druthers (what she'd rather be doing, instead of watching it rain outside). They have fun with all of the imaginative play the little girl can dream up and she finds out that a little rain can be a great thing with Dad inside to play.

Ink and watercolor illustrations. Must see/read!

[Donna]

DRUTHERS : what a great word, don't you think? I love the sound of it, and if you don't know the meaning of it, just pick up this book to find out! This craftily written and illustrated book is a fun "stir of the imagination" on a rainy day--or any other day, for that matter :) What a great author/illustrator debut by the talented Matt Phelan!

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but sweet little picture book that I hope encourages some children to use their imaginations rather than rely on TV or electronic games for entertainment. I know there are many children who are expert "imagineers" who will enjoy this story and wonderful illustrations. I also love how the Dad in the story interacts with Penelope and her fanciful dreams.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable family story full of imagination with a satisfying conclusion.
Large black text well-placed around soft illustrations that effectively portray the little girl's emotions.
Great example for parents to handle a boring, rainy day!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you do when you're up against a rainy day? You think of Druthers of course! Little Penelope's Dad describes Druthers as things you would rather do, if you could do anything at all. With that, Penelope and her Dad's day turns from a day of nothingness to a day full of fantasy and excitement.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adorable story about a little girl and her father and how they amuse themselves and each other when it is a rainy day outside. There is new vocabulary to learn and much fun to be had - great for young readers!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Druthers are what you would rather do if you could do anything at all."

A father and daughter use their imaginations to enjoy a rainy day. So fun

Theme: imagination, father-daughter relationships,

[Allison]

On a rainy day, the daughter is at home not able to play outside. The dad decides to do everything he can to make her day become brighter. The daughter tells everything she wants to do and the dad goes along and makes her day. It shows the importance of father-daughter relationship.

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet picture book about a father and daughter playing inside together. The parent/child interaction feels warm and comforting without being sappy. The imaginative play of the child will resonate with young children and keep them engaged through many re-readings.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful celebration of fathers and daughters, creativity, and language.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A warm, fun story about a daughter and her dad using their imaginations to inject some excitement into a boring, rainy day.

[Radhika · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful story of a bored little girl on a rainy day and her dad......Druthers is what you would always do if you did anything at all. It made my imagination fly....

[pati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rain, rain go away...no wait a minute, rainy days are great for spending time with dad!

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book about a girl and her dad who use their imaginations on a rainy day.

Animal-concerned parents might want to know that one page features a Victorian-style zoo with iron-barred cages.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great word, great book.