Just Right
Some people make you feel good. You can count on them.
Toby, a young boy, has a mom who helps him navigate the world. He keeps her wise words by his side.
Those words help him when his father, whom many kids will recognize as self-absorbed, spending solid time with his phone, doesn’t appreciate a gift from Toby.
His mother suggests Toby give his other chosen gift to his uncle, who runs an auto repair shop down the street. Uncle is someone Toby can count on.
This book is charming. It portrays both the disappointment we experience in our relationships and the comforting joy we find in those rare people who matter most in our lives.
Just Right is a good choice for those kids you know who are figuring out how to deal with the challenges some of their relationships present. It’s not heavy-handed in its message. It will open the door for discussion.
Ma says, “If a person ain’t right, they won’t make you feel right.” There are layers within her words that can be talked about, but this book offers a clear view.
I want a hug from Uncle. He is somebody who is just right.
The art is lively and welcoming. Teresa Martinez creates reassuring surroundings. In cartoon style, Toby moves through his neighborhood, visiting his uncle’s shop, where he is welcome. The reader experiences this through the color palette, the body language, the small details in their surroundings … her illustrations make the story complete.
This is Torrey Maldonado’s first picture book. I loved the uncles in his middle grade novel Hands. Here, one of those uncles is portrayed as the reason a young boy feels seen and loved. What could be more right than that?
Just Right
written by Torrey Maldonado
illustrated by Teresa Martinez
Nancy Paulsen Books / Penguin Random House
available 20 January 2026
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It sounds like the author did a beautiful job with a very tough topic. Dealing with difficult people is hard for adults, but when you're a kid and it's your dad, that's really tough.
What an important topic...for us all.