Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

I absolutely LOVED this story. There are too few opportunities for us to see great grandparents as vibrant, full of life, and integral parts of a family. Intergenerational stories are my favorite, and the relationship between Kaia and Tatang warmed my heart.

I will definitely be adding this book to my collection.

Title - Any Day With You

Author - Mae Respicio

Genre - Middle Grade

Every once in a while, I decide to pick up a book that is generally for young readers since they tend to be quite fun to read and gives a blast of those nostalgic days. One of my main reason to pick up this book was the same since I had been reading quite a few heavy books and I needed something to get myself a bit light-headed. A story that shows us the bond between a girl and her grandfather and how she tries to get the approval and admiration she always seek. Read on to find out more.

Thank you so much to the publishers for providing me a NetGalley copy of this book

Kaia and her family lives in California. Years ago, her great-grandfather Tatang had moved to USA from Philippines who now looks to move back to his roots. Meanwhile, Kaia has always tried to seek approval from Tatang and she does not want to lose this chance before Tatang moves. An opportunity finally strikes up when she and her friends enter into a short movie contest and Kaia decides to do a retelling of one of the Filipino folktales.

What I was looking for when I picked up this book? A light and fun read that I would surely remember once I move on to other books. Did I love it? Ofcourse I did. The book has been beautifully written with the emotions portrayed so deep. You get attached to the characters of Kaia and Tatang who are the primary focus here and it does make you reminiscence the times that we had spent with our elders.

Though, there is one shortcoming of the book that could have been looked into. While trying to bring the folktale alive, I would have loved if there had been more insights on the folktale as well. It would have been intriguing to hear on new tales that forms the roots of the modern generation. Overall, I would still recommend this book for anyone looking to have a fun time reading since this book promises to let you be a child once again.

My Ratings - 🌟🌟🌟🌟 (4 out of 5 stars)

A lovely family story bursting with joy and heart without feeling too treacly. There are no villains, no bullies. But yet the emotions still sting. How does an author create tension when all the characters are decent, caring people? By introducing the possibility that the people you love can leave you behind, move on. It’s about the bond between a Filipino-American girl and her beloved great-grandfather who shares folktales and life lessons designed to teach mindfulness. But this isn’t a dry preachy story. Great-grandpa (Tatang) possesses a pretty wild spirit and the main character is a vibrant presence. Kids interested in filmmaking and the arts will enjoy the fact that the protagonist and her friends have dreams of Oscar glory and end up making a humorous short film. This is a sunny and intelligent and remarkably humane work. It’s haunting too and has something powerful to say about history.

Any Day With You was a sweet story about a girl and the love she has for her great grandad. It felt like a lovely introduction to Filipino culture and folklore, and I particularly enjoyed the segments where Kaia and the family ate together and discussed various traditions. I also enjoyed all the references to the beach and surfing, and am super jealous of anyone who can look out of their window and see the ocean right now!

I thought the story itself was perhaps a little bit slow, as I found myself disengaging at times. Kaia's voice also seemed much younger than 12 years old, if I had to guess her age I would have said 7-8.

This book honors family and being present in a meaningful way! Anyone who has had a special relationship with a grandparent will feel all the feels while reading about the connection between this particular girl and her grandfather. It makes you feel right at home within their family. Overall sweet and endearing, and it will really make you consider the question, “Where are your feet?”

I loved Respicio’s previous book, The House That Lou Built, so I had high expectations for her newest story. I was definitely not disappointed. I absolutely love multi-generational stories and this one is perfect. The information regarding Philippine history and culture will delight readers who share the culture and will fascinate all young readers. This is a heartwarming and engaging story that will appeal to a wide variety of readers. I highly recommend it!

I am so excited to have read this book and review it during Asian Pacific Islander month literal days before its debut! This book is about Kaia who lives with her family in Santa Monica California. When her grandfather Tatang tells Kaia he wants to return to the Philippines, she wants to do anything she can to prevent it from happening. This brought me memories of my own grandmother leaving our family to spend time with my uncle and his family. The anxiety that Kaia is feeling and the desire to stop him from leaving makes the reader feel emotion and root for Kaia.

This the perfect book for middle grade. The vulnerability of the middle grade reader that believes they can solve anything with enough effort and a project is one the would resonate with many. The theme of family is prevalent in this novel and makes it a worthwhile read.

The publisher Random House Children’s generously provided me with a copy of the book upon request on NetGalley. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

This beautiful book made me wish I could be with my grandmother right now! Tatang is such a real character, I feel like I know him! I can't wait to share this book with my students!

I received this digital ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

There's so much to love in this book. Kaia's great-grandfather has long been a fixture of their family. Known for his sense of adventure, and his incredible storytelling, Tatang is one of Kaia's favorite people, so the news that he's planning on moving back to the Philipines is crushing. Add that to her sister's trip abroad, and impending departure for college, and Kaia feels like she's being left behind.

Many Filipino children will be excited to find familiar names, traditions and food in this book, but there is so much more for every reader. Mae Respicio makes Kaia a very relatable character, with a wonderful network of people surrounding her. Tatang's advice will hopefully weave it's way into some readers' hearts as they think of happy memories and think about where their feet are. I can't wait for this one to find its way into the hands of middle grade readers soon.

This is really a three and a half stars, but it hard to do a half star.

This is the second book by Mae Respicio that I've read, and while I love how she weaves in her filipino heritage into the story, the region that this story took place, Santa Monica/Venice Beach in Southern California did not feel as real as the first book, which took place in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since I grew up with a father who worked in the "industry" as they called the TV and Movie business back then, some of the main characters experience are not a bit like mine, but perhaps things have changed, and I am looking at this through nostalgic eyes.

I did like how detailed the book was about the filming of her movie, from the script to the problems that she had in making it, for the contest that she hopes will make her great grandfather want to stay in California, instead of moving back to his home village in the Philippines.

I also liked how author worked into the story, the Bataan Death March, which was part of her own history, and she made it real for the readers.

Though the story started off a little slow, with the MC being a bit whiny, things picked up and the story got better, along with the secret in the ending.

The great grandfather was full of life, and had a great personality too.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest reivew.

I adored the sweet relationship that Kaia had w/her great-grandfather, the inclusion of Filipino folklore, the familial warmth, & the way Kaia matured throughout the story.

I feel bad for not liking this book, as I'm sure I'll be one of the few detractors. Filled with lots of details about Filipino culture and mythology, the usual black sheep drama of an artsy kid in a nerdy family, and a genuinely sweet and loving family this should have been a middle grade hit for me...but it wasn't. I guess I need a little more peril in my books?

Mae Respicio does an incredibly job writing realistic fiction for middle grade readers. The characters are engaging and the settings beautiful. Any Day with You is written from the point of view of a middle child, pre-teen girl who lives with her parents, great grandpa, younger brother and older sister. She is a creative mind while her older sister has always been praised for being academically gifted. Kaia struggles to find her place in the family and how to make her great grandfather proud of her.
The book is filled with heart and emotion as the family overcomes various challenges and goes through life together. The relationships between children and parent, children and great grandparent were wonderful. I loved all this book offered. It was uplifting and encouraging.

Kaia loves the beach, but she doesn’t like change. Her older sister just finished high school and will soon start college on the other side of the country. Kaia’s summer plans get upended when Tatang, her great-grandfather, announces that he’ll move back to the Philippines at the end of the summer.

When Kaia’s art camp announces a film contest, she thinks she has discovered a way to keep Tatang in the United States—make him so proud of her when she wins that he’ll never want to leave. Her best friends, Abby and Trey, agree to use a Filipino folktale as the basis of their contest entry.

The beautiful story of friendship and family will appeal to both middle-grade students and their parents and teachers. It holds a wealth of information about Filipino culture and the struggle of immigrant families.

Respicio masterfully weaves in cultural tidbits without ever making them sound gratuitous (it helps that Kaia’s mom teaches Filipino studies at a nearby university). I finished the book with a greater understanding of a culture I knew little about and a new respect for a culture that honors and values their elders.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

Kaia lives with her family in California, surrounded by loving parents and siblings, funny friends and she can't wait to spend her whole summer with her great-grandfather Tatang, even though she will miss her older sister Lainey, who decided to spend her summer in their family homeland, the Philippines. When Kaia discovers her beloved Tatang wants to move back there, she will try anything to convince him to stay.

Any day with you is a moving, tender and sweet story about this stubborn and creative young girl.
Kaia is an amazing main character., she's brilliant and talented and I love her passion of makeup, using it for creating special effects. I loved the moviemaking and, above all, the folktales, so interesting.
Any day with you is a book that deals with love, hope, family, roots and stories. The writing style is evocative, it seems like the reader was there with them on the beach, smelling the ocean, or listening to wonderful and intense tales.
This story is really sweet, sometimes bittersweet and really well written.

I absolutely loved this story. It was about family, friends, and trying your best to be your best. Kaia has two great best friends, a close family, and a great grandfather she adores. She loves to create special effects makeup and uses that skill to enter a film contest as part of her art camp in the summer. She is hoping that by winning it will keep her Tanatang (great grandfather) from moving back to the Philippines. I loved hearing about Filipino folklore, perhaps Respicio will write a book if collected Filipino folklore, and being able to relate to the characters (my uncle is Filipino and I saw a lot of home in this story). This book is well-written, funny, sad, and heartfelt. This is a great character-driven story with a sunny California backdrop. I look forward to more stories by Respicio.

Kaia lives in Santa Monica with her supportive family, which includes college professor mom, movie artist dad, older sister Lainey, and great-grandfather, Tatang. She is looking forward to a fun summer, even though she will miss Lainey, who is off to medical school in the fall and is spending the summer in the Philippines, where Tatang was born and raised. The plan is that Tatang, who is 90, will visit with friends and family while Lainey is there, then return with her to the US. When he tells Kaia that he is actually going to remain in the Philippines for the rest of his days, Kaia is devastated. She is in a summer program, Camp ArtAttack, with her good friends Trey and Abby, Kaia comes up with a great idea-- they will base their video project on the traditional tales Tatang told her and win the prize in a local competition. Surely that will be enough to persuade Tatang to stay with her family. When that plan looks like it won't be as effective, Kaia applies for a military honor for Tatang, who served in WWII and suffered through the Bataan Death March. She has some issues to work through with the rest of her family, particularly since she feels her interest in doing make up for movies isn't treated as a serious career path in the way that Lainey's medical aspirations are. Will Kaia be successful in keeping her beloved great-grandfather close to her?
Strengths: I adore stories with supportive and involved grandparents, since mine were older and/or not involved (when I was Kaia's age, my grandmother was 84! and the rest were deceased). Tatang is a great character, with his fun shirts and boundless energy, and the bits of his personal history that we learn only add to his appeal. Kaia's involvement in making a video will appeal to students, many of whom share this interest. Changing family dynamics are hard on tweens, even when they are natural and unavoidable, like a sibling heading to college. This was a short, quick read that can be handed to a variety of readers in the same way that this author's The House That Lou Built can.
Weaknesses: It seemed off that Kaia's grandparents from this side of the story were deceased, and I wanted a few more details about them.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing. It's a bittersweet tale that is ultimately upbeat, and is a great example of how to come to terms with difficult circumstances that many tweens face. I'm always a fan of kids who have interests in passion, although as a bitter, disappointed former Latin teacher, I will always wish that those passions were less liberal arts focused and more concerned with tech, math, and science fields!