Just a Minute!

Written by Josée Bournival

Illustrated by Luke Ives

CrackBoom! Books (Chouette Publishing)

978-2-89802-605-8

32 pp.

Ages 4-7

May 2025 

 

How long is a minute? If you ask an adult, they will say 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour. But for children, it can be measured by what can happen in that time, good or bad. So, a minute can seem like an eternity or a flash, depending on how they are feeling.

From Just a Minute!, written by Josée Bournival, illustrated by Luke Ives

Josée Bournival, well-known Quebec radio and TV host as well as author of adult and children's books, examines the concept of a minute from the perspective of different children. As diverse as the children and the families is the variety of ways to see a minute. First she looks at times when a minute seems like a long time, from waiting in line for a washroom or being told to wait when wanting something from an adult or when you can't fall asleep.

From Just a Minute!, written by Josée Bournival, illustrated by Luke Ives

But then there are those times when a minute just isn't long enough, like when playing with friends or getting a cuddle from your mother or watching a sunset. In those cases, time just flies by.

From Just a Minute!, written by Josée Bournival, illustrated by Luke Ives

Finally, a minute can be long enough to do things like brush your teeth or walk across the road and even change your whole life, like the moment you meet a new baby in the family. Sometimes we lose minutes through anger and arguing, but also through daydreaming. Ultimately, though, "when we line them up, one after the next, minutes make up our lives."

Whatever you way you look at a minute, good, bad, or neutral, it's time that comes and goes and brings with it something from which we learn, gain comfort, emote, interact, and so much more, all of which go into making our lives fuller. Josée Bournival covers the concept of a minute not as a unit of time but as a dimension of living, never judging or grumbling about time spent in any activity and always recognizing the fullness of a life that is both brimming with moments of different qualities.

From Just a Minute!, written by Josée Bournival, illustrated by Luke Ives

Montreal's Luke Ives ensures that all those moments of minutes of play and affection, learning and stressing are included but always with gentleness and good nature. Even standing in a line for a portable toilet does more than draw attention to the uncomfortable child, showing us people living their lives in moments of biding their time, either patiently or impatiently. His cartoon images keep the message light and amusing, always familiar in their circumstances and recognizable in the children's sentiments.

 

It may take you more than a minute to read Just a Minute! but whether a young child reading for themselves or an adult reading aloud to a child, the minutes spent reading this picture book will be worthwhile and completely satisfying.

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A French-language version, Une (petite) minute!, is also available.

Une (petite) minute!

Written by Josée Bournival

Illustrated by Luke Ives

CrackBoom! Books

978-2-89802-572-3

32 pp.

Ages 4-7

May 2025