Fox has just invited Moose over for tea, and she has planned a sweet treat and a fun time together. Moose has just accepted the invitation and is planning on bringing a knitted scarf as a gift. Tao Nyeu’s Exactly as Planned (2024) describes a day full of surprises for both characters.
Both characters are bound by social conventions of politeness and reciprocation. To both of their surprise, various adventures befall each of them that change their respective plans.
They each try to problem-solve in order to get to the meeting place with some semblance of a gift for each other.
Exactly as Planned is beautifully written and illustrated by Tao Nyeu. Nyeu makes clever use of the print book form. The different narratives of Fox and Moose start at the respective front and back covers, and the conclusions end in the middle of the book. There is wit in the storytelling, both textually and visually. The characters are a little reminiscent of the animals in Bill Peet’s children’s picture books.
The adventures the two go on are playful, and the other animals in the space are sometimes helpful friends and sometimes mischief makers.
The lesson here has something to do with “best laid plans” not always coming together There is something about adapting to the circumstances and cherishing the time together and friendship over perhaps following rules of social propriety and gifting.
This picture book, Exactly as Planned, has such charming characters, and a world of such quirky and fun adventures, that a reader may hope for more books to follow.
Shalin Hai-Jew has worked in higher education for many years. She has edited dozens of nonfiction educational books and authored a dozen with a number of publishers.
