I'm Busy - Perfect Picture Book Friday #PPBF

2 minutes ago
3 min read

I have to admit that I am so relieved some days to look at my calendar and see an empty day! They rarely stay that way, but when they do (or things don't worm their way into being scheduled until later in the day), I have been known to heave a huge sigh and grab a cup of tea and a book and curl up for some me time. Or take time to just stare out the window and watch birds. It is so easy to overschedule ourselves and our kids. To forget to say "no" sometimes and try to pack as much in as possible. But kids (and adults) all need some unstructured time to do things that bring us joy, reset our minds and emotions, and set our imagination free. This picture book is a wonderful ode to playing with friends and being sure to find (or set aside) unscheduled time.

I'm Busy

Author: Michael Ian Black

Illustrator: Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (February 24, 2026)

Ages: 4-8

Fiction

Themes:

Relaxing, downtime, friends, overscheduling, and balanced lives.

Synopsis:

In this fifth book in the series from New York Times bestselling author Michael Ian Black and celebrated illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi, a flamingo, a girl, and a potato tackle what it’s like to feel super-busy-all-the-time.

So much to do and so little time! How can a girl get everything done?

Especially when Potato and Flamingo are asking her to hula hoop or play superheroes, when she has more important things to do, like piano practice, Spanish lessons, solving mysteries, and getting into the right college. Okay, that might be too much…

Can friends help her find some balance and understand that no matter how busy you get, you should always find time for your friends?

Opening Lines:

Whatcha doing?

. . . I'm busy.

What I Loved about this book:

Although the main character is drawing a portrait of two posing penguins. . . this is not a moment of fun, but one event in the girl's highly scheduled life. Poor Potato looks so sad peering from behind the rock.

Internal spread - girl drawing two penguins on an easel, while a flamingo peers ove the top, two penguins pose on a rock, and potato peeks sadly from behind the rock.

Text © Michael Ian Black, 2026. Image © Debbie Ohi, 2026.

This busyness and almost frenetic activity become clear over the next few spreads as the poor kindergartener does a science experiment, types a coding project, practices trumpet, and bemoans that, "I’ve only got twelve years before college applications are due!" Playing off Michael Ian Black's tongue and cheek humor, Debbie Ridpath Ohi does a great job capturing the weight of such a packed and overloaded schedule.

Internal spread - on the upper left flamingo and potato scowl as the girl marches past staring at a list. Lower left, the girl poorly practices trumpet, as flaningo and potato wear headphones. On the right, a sad flamingo and potato watch the girl march past carrying a huge stack of books and trailing loose papers.

Even though the girl shows her friends her totally packed schedule (image in Monday's interview), Potato's child-like question of, "what about tomorrow?" elicits a reply that she is even busier and reveals an ever-growing trail of papers, books, and school supplies fanning out behind her as she hurries off. And the girl erupts in an escalating tirade about the things on her list.

Flamingo and Potato's raucous laughter over standing on one leg and splashing in the mud forces the girl to search her schedule for a free moment to play with her friends and a realization that, "Gee, now that I think of it, I might be a little too busy" and her total collapse into the grass.

Internal spread - on the left flamingo stands on one leg, laughing, as potato splashes mud all about and onto flamingo. On the right, a stressed girl stares at ther calendar looking for a free moment for her friends.

It dodges being dogmatic and humorously wraps the ending in the effect that this packed schedule was having on the girl and reminds her (and the reader) of the value of unstructured time and playing with friends. With the solution being, of course, "A potato!" Or more accurately . . . well, you'll just have to find out for yourself and discover the fun twist at the end. It's a gorgeous book full of humor and heart, which highlights everyone's need for self-care and time with friends.

Resources:

make your own origami flamingo and potato friends to help you remember to play with friends and relax.

what do you like to do to relax? Find shapes in clouds? Climb trees? Read? Make art? Listen to music? Run around and play games with friends?

check out ways to help kids enjoy some downtime and fun outdoor activities.

If you missed my interview with Debbie Ridpath Ohi on Monday, find it (here).

This post is part of a series of blog posts by authors and KidLit bloggers called Perfect Picture Book Fridays. For more picture book suggestions and resources see Susanna Leonard Hill's Perfect Picture Books.