A Long Road on a Short Day by Elizabeth Stickney, Eugene Yelchin, Gary D. Schmidt
Published by Clarion Books on November 10, 2020
ISBN: 0544888367
Pages: 64
Genres: Adventure, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

After Mama’s expresses the need for a milk cow for their baby, Papa takes Samuel on a trading expedition. Starting with his hunting knife, they visitsone person after another, making trade after trade until he secures a milk cow. Papa treats Samuel as a partner, discussing various decisions they need to make along the way.

The phrase “Long road on a short day” is repeated by Papa and Samuel as they trod through the thickening snow and impending winter darkness.  At just 59 pages of widely-spaced lines, this is a great read aloud for elementary students to discuss and an independent read for transitional readers. Occasional full-color illustrations add to the mood and tone.

Trading up emphasizes the importance of starting small if you’re thinking big, and how different people assign different values to various objects. 

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Retired Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town