This is an elegant piece of living theater, something into which readers can nestle and observe. ... A book to bathe in, reminding readers that something magical is happening every instant.
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
In his inimitable, deceptively simple style, Graham celebrates what can happen in a single moment and reminds readers to pause and observe. ... While the story is minimal, there is a lot to see and absorb. The detailed pictures bear repeated inspection, the characters are appealing, and the story is very child-oriented. This unusual offering will enhance collections and work equally well in classrooms or one-on-one.
--School Library Journal (starred review)
In this quiet, thought-provoking picture book, Graham marvels at the myriad things that transpire in a moment's time. ... Graham deftly depicts an array of perspectives in his signature ink-and-watercolor artwork...The understated sentences gently encapsulate moments that are mundane, melancholy, and joyful, encouraging readers to ponder all that might be happening in the world at any given instant.
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)
[F]amiliar, homespun artwork and simple observations... [A] slightly older crowd will have the sense, even if they can't put it into words, of both how big yet particular the world is, and what a wondrous thing it is that everyone is a part of an infinite whole.
--Booklist
Graham, always a gentle
observer of the
quotidian, regales audiences with a steadily zooming-out cross-section of city life to illustrate the millions of events packed into a minute. Graham's prose is both simple and quietly lyrical, with a focused present tense that enhances the book's encapsulation of a moment, while his signature line and watercolor illustrations with their gentle hues and rounded features enhance the tenderness of this tale.
--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
It's rare for such an admirably simple children's book to suggest so much that's profound. "The Silver Button" is indeed something very special, a book that speaks to the old and the young at their own levels, but says the same thing to both.
--The New York Times Online
This sensitive picture book celebrates the synchronicity of one precious tick of the clock.
--The Wall Street Journal
Graham perfectly synchronizes the four-vignette sequence that echoes the opening... All of the meticulous details of this family's warm household fall away to focus on this one life-changing minute. Graham simultaneously illustrates how each life is the sum of these fleeting moments, and how important it is to pay attention so as not to miss them. Bravo!
--Shelf Awareness Pro