It's a Terrible Day (Not Really) Let's Count by Twos

by Nan Evenson Illustrated by Karina Matkevych

Reviewed by Susan Kay Phillips

It’s a Terrible Day (Not Really): Let’s Count by Twos by Wisconsin author Nan Evenson is a delightful romp through learning to count by twos forward and backward. Evenson brings years of experience teaching math to children and teenagers and applies her experience in this book, presenting a highly accessible math learning experience.

The main characters, Lisa and Charlie, are lively and energetic. They teach counting skills by helping a variety of people and animals. Page by page, the counting situations are engaging — using two tools to repair a friend’s wheelchair, sharing four snacks with the neighbor’s hungry little brother, on up to rescuing ten overcrowded fish. The people and animals Lisa and Charlie help represent a culturally diverse neighborhood that will charm readers while offering an opportunity to explore diversity and community.

The backwards counting from ten back down to two, does not disappoint but maintains the same bursting-with-the-joy-of-learning presentation. Lisa and Charlie are having a great time and Matkevych’s colorful illustrations capture that masterfully.

In a two-page spread at the end of the book, Lisa and Charlie celebrate with all who were helped exclaiming, “It’s not really a terrible day. We can fix our problems. We can help each other. Welcome to this great day, kids!”

Evenson’s book effectively teaches math skills while at the same time showing a sense of community and kindness toward others. The text and the illustrations are a delightful read. Learning math becomes an enjoyable adventure.

It’s a Terrible Day (Not Really): Let’s Count by Twos, follows Evenson’s first children’s picture book, Good Night (Not Really): Let’s Count Forward AND Backward also illustrated by Karina Matkevych. Evenson’s first picture book was reviewed here in the fall of 2024. Her two books taken together make a great introduction to early math learning. Both books are Purple Dragonfly award winners.

Reviewer’s Note

Once again I was fortunate enough to be able to interview the author, Nan Evenson. Here are her responses to my questions. Many thanks to Nan for her generosity in answering the questions.

1) Please share some of your journey leading you to be a writer of children’s picture books.

When I had grandchildren and began reading our old kids’ books to them, I found some things missing. We had simple counting books and plenty of lovely good night books, but where were the count backward and count by two books? We could use a few more morning books, too, I thought. So, I began to write them. The characters (Charlie and Lisa) in the Not Really series came to life when I hired my illustrator, a young woman from Ukraine. The two books, in the series so far, are Good Night (Not Really): Let’s Count Forward AND Backward and It’s a Terrible Day (Not Really): Let’s Count by Twos.

2) What was the inspiration for your book?

As I mentioned, the initial inspiration was seeing gaps in the picture book market. But more importantly, my continued motivation became working with my illustrator, Karina. She drew magical pictures while her country was at war, literally on fire. It was an honor to provide her with work and payment for what she loved to do.

3) What is the most memorable feedback that you’ve gotten about your book from a reader?

Has to be when your granddaughter counts by twos for you! I also like this review: My son is only 1, so just learning to count but he LOVES this book! It is goofy enough that he doesn’t even realize he is also learning about counting and I like how it also includes backwards counting. My favorite part is that I don’t even mind reading it 40 times a day.

4) Were you able to collaborate with the illustrator?

I hired Karina through an online company called Upwork. It was a great experience, and we created the entire book/s basically via email. I have never talked to her and had planned to visit her in Kiev, but then the war struck. She sent me her wedding pictures, and we shared life stories in between creating books. My heart hurts that I haven’t heard from Karina in over a year. Our communication just suddenly stopped. I pray for her and her loved ones’ safety.

5) Is there anything in particular you hope children will take away from reading your book?

Math is not only fun, but you can do it!

6) Do you have any unique writing super powers or strategies?

Maybe a superpower is that I hired wonderful collaborators. In the end, my experience was special because of the people. Oh, and I finally figured out how to stay organized – spreadsheets!

7) Do you have any favorite children’s picture book authors, illustrators, or characters?

Dr. Seuss and Tomie dePaola are sure hard to beat. I taught all four of our kids to read via Dr. S’s Hop on Pop.

8) Are you working on any new projects?

In addition to the two books in the Not Really series, I just published a Middle Grade/Young Adult historical fiction western adventure, Walk On. Super fun to write. I’m currently working on another MG/YA Irish Potato Famine time travel adventure. My uncle Don has all kinds of letters, etc. from our family’s migration to America in the mid-1800s from Ireland. It will be nice to work with him.

9) Where can people purchase a copy of your book?

The usual suspects – Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other on-line bookstores. Thank you for considering it.

10) Is there anything else you would like to share?

I’d like to thank you, Kay, for taking the time and caring energy to review our books. And my granddaughters love your sweet story– Bimby and the Bunny. My review of that is – Absolutely charming!

As always, thank you for reading!

.main-header-bar{ visibility: visible!important; } .ast-mobile-header-wrap{ visibility: visible!important; } #masthead{ visibility: visible!important; }