Review - Mila Has Two Beds

Mila Has Two Beds
by Judith Koppens
illustrated by Anouk Nys
Date: 2020
Publisher: Clavis Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Mila has two homes: some days she lives with Mommy and some days she lives with Daddy. Today she is going to her mommy’s house. Everything is a little different at Mommy’s than at Daddy’s. But Mommy and Daddy both think Mila is the sweetest girl in the whole world.

A warm and simple story about a girl whose parents are divorced. For toddlers ages 30 months and up, with a focus on the child’s daily life.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I found this book a bit exhausting. I realize that this may be the reality for some children, but the thought of essentially moving every two days just makes me tired. Do these selfish parents really think all that upheaval is good for their kid?

Mila's parents are divorced, so she spends two days with her father and then two days with her mother, switching back and forth. She has two beds and two toothbrushes, a dog at one house, a cat at the other, and two parents who love her (but who obviously can't stand each other).

There's really no story. The sole purpose, I suppose, is to make children of divorce feel like they're not alone. But this custody arrangement is like nothing I've ever seen. I wonder what these parents' jobs are that they're both able to be stay-at-home parents for two days every two days...

I'm not enamoured with the illustrations. They're very simple, and the perspective is off in some (there's a picture of Mila at the sink and her toothbrush cup is just sort of hovering on the edge; it looks completely unnatural). The typeface is also not the easiest to read, either. (This is the second picture book I've read in as many days that's had this issue. What's wrong with a clear serif?)

Overall, I'm not that impressed. It's probably fine for children of divorce, but I'd be concerned that it sort of glorifies joint custody for kids who aren't in that situation. Who wouldn't want to have two rooms, two pets, and a parent's undivided attention no matter where you go?

Thank you to NetGalley and Clavis Publishing for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.33 out of 5