My Upside Down World

MY THOUGHTS

I felt seen when I read this book and hoped my family would see and understand me too when I read this aloud to them!

In My Upside Down World, the narrator (a young girl) is almost in tears because her ‘World’ has literally been turned upside down by her older brother! She rushes to complain to Mom, who is busy working. She tries Dad, but he is busy burning breakfast! What is a little girl to do when Argentina and Mongolia have merged to become Argengolia, and there is a new country called Cantrailia! The noise and chaos become too much for Mom, and her head explodes! The little girl then sees all the things Mom has been carrying around in her head. Dad helps put things back together and peace returns as the siblings turn the world back right side up and put out a few flames caused by global warming.

This book is an absolutely-down to the last detail of crazy picture of my household. Author Ken Spillman weaves a story that can be read on so many levels. This book was released during the pandemic when families were forced to stay indoors, and everyone gasped for space. Family around all the time can be reassuring and downright frustrating! Read this one as a complete family unit fighting fire and each individual caught in their own crazy as well! Brilliantly illustrated by Silvana Giraldo using mixed materials and all-seeing eyes, this one will have you re-reading the book and finding something new each time you read it!

I recently used this book for a creative writing exercise asking students to write from the perspective of the all-knowing eyes, and it was downright hilarious! This book can be used in so many ways, and is one you will not tire of.