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For a young child, any contact with relatives who can only visit sometimes is special. Every day feels like an adventure, and they're sure to receive tons of extra attention and maybe even get spoiled. Three-year-old CeCe and her Aunt Z have such a relationship, living in Kentucky and Virginia, respectively. When Aunt Z comes to visit, CeCe is usually sick or in low spirits, but her favorite aunt's visit is medicine for her soul. Like any bold, strong-willed child, CeCe is always quick to show her aunt just how much she can do, and she won't let anyone rob her of a moment to shine. Aunt Z learns to tread lightly while making sure CeCe knows she's the star of the show, no matter where they go or what they do together.
In this particular collection of stories, Aunt Z and CeCe have fun cooking and dancing to music in the house, go for a ride outside in the summertime heat, and check out books together at the library. At every stop, CeCe finds a way to put the spotlight on herself, and even when it can be a handful, Aunt Z allows CeCe to be CeCe. Like most children her age, CeCe knows best and won't let anything get in her way. She knows how she likes to do things, and needs the space to show off or just be silly. Over the entire trip, Aunt Z teaches CeCe some of what she knows and makes sure that by the time she has to leave, her precious niece has had the time of her life. Ultimately, every trip has to come to an end, and CeCe has to say goodbye, at least until the next trip.
Every page of this book is full of vibrantly colored illustrations that are full of character and show the energetic and rambunctious CeCe giving everything she's got to whatever activity has her attention at the moment. Parents and relatives will enjoy seeing Aunt Z's expressions, which range from delight and surprise to the occasional exhaustion of keeping up with a three-year-old with no brakes. Adventures and activities each last a few pages, giving readers and children plenty of space to leave off and resume later, or to have perfectly portioned imagination sessions if they have a particular favorite place or thing to do. At this pace, it can easily serve as a daily reader for children in early education or after a meal or snack at home.
CeCe herself is unquestionably the star of this book, just as she steals every scene she takes part in. Vibrant and curious, stubborn and confident, children will see themselves in at least one side of her, and parents will relate to the capricious roller-coaster of emotions that comes with raising such young children. In this way, this story will strike a chord with every member of the family: children will love the different activities and locations, parents will share a knowing nod with the boundless energy and headstrong choices, and that special relative will know just how much it means for them to make an appearance whenever possible. CeCe is easily the kind of character that children could grow along with. The format of this book invites countless adventures, and it's not hard to imagine CeCe in the years to come tackling the developmental years of childhood with the same spirit and tenacity, no matter what the next day may have in store for her.