I agree with the blurb, in that this book is pretty whimsical. The poems are easy-reads and I could relate to some of the sentiments about the nature of work and adulthood. However, the poems quickly became repetitive, not helped by the use of the same rhyming pattern throughout. I also found some of the rhymes a little forced. I enjoyed the art style, but again, it did feel a bit child-like. The clash between the format and the subject matter feels "off". Honestly, it doesn't feel like there is enough substances to justify making it a book. If it had been a children's book with poems specifically for young children, I would say great; the vibe, the style, rhyming pattern, text layout, colour scheme, and book length would be spot-on. But it's intended for adults and in this case, in my opinion, comes off as gimmicky. The back cover suggests the RRP will be $18.99 (USD) and if that's the case, I think it's wildly overpriced for what is being delivered. It might make a quirky coffee-table gift for a friend who could do with a surface-level motivation boost about their work life.

I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher, Andrews McMeel Publishing, for review purposes.

Funny explains how I feel having to get up and go to a job I hate everyday. Great illustrations and would definitely recommend.

This is a collection of short stories that revolve around work related things, like how you should take care of yourself so you don't get burnt out at work. It covers a lot of different real world things, along with some well drawn art it really sheds some light on some topics alot of us don't really talk about. This book is good for Adults and Teens, even if you don't have a job as a teen some of these stories could help a teen not be so stressed out with school and other things that can be stressful at the time of your life.

In a Nutshell: Not exactly as I had expected, which is actually my fault as I should have read the blurb. This is a picture book for adults, containing six poems covering various adult/workplace-related issues. Some motivational, some humorous. Most were not my cup of tea, though.

I had grabbed this only by a look at the cover. (I know, I know!!!) What corporate professional wouldn’t resonate with the expression on that mouse’s face, as he stares at his comp? I assumed this to be a collection of funny comics related to the workplace, maybe something on the lines of Dilbert.

While this is still an illustrated book, the content isn’t a collection of comics but six poems. This was the first hurdle for me. I am NOT a poem person, and I had not anticipated this book to be written entirely in rhyming verse. Moreover, the poems are in AABB pattern, which, to be frank, is great for kiddie poems, not for adult verses. Some of the rhymes are too forced, further adding to my dissatisfaction. I think adult poetry lovers will find the poems too simplistic.

Secondly, I thought this would be a funny read, but the general vibe is more motivational than humorous. I don’t read inspirational books as this genre doesn’t work for me.

The poems are on varied topics somewhat connected to work, but not necessarily corporate jobs. One is like a motivational verse, aiming to inspire you to focus on yourself first rather than spending all hours at your workplace. Another talks of the travails of an overactive brain that awakens you at night and leaves you drowsy during the day. The third speaks of the wandering heart (the most vague poem of the set), the fourth shows an artist’s uncertainty over his painting, the fifth is about a professional’s quandary over how to end his email, and the final one is about a clown who entertains others and considers it his calling.

How does all this fit under “Encouraging Tales of Resilience”, as promised by the tagline? I honestly don’t know. As you can see, the poems and their core topics are not even close to each other in theme and hence the effect is very disjointed.

I did partly agree with the message in the first story (mental health is important). And I enjoyed the humour of the fifth poem titled “Sincerely Yours”, because I too have spent many minutes wondering if a ‘Sincerely’ works better than a ‘Take care’ or a ‘Thanking you in anticipation’. This poem was my favourite of the bunch, and the only one that made me smile.

Basically, I was the wrong reader for this as I am not a fan of such nonfiction, nor do I enjoy poetry. The illustrations could have saved the book for me to some extent, but I didn’t even like the artwork. Art is subjective, of course; I just wish the graphics had been more like that on the cover. However, only one of the poems had animals in the illustrations; the rest were ordinary humans, and in too simplistic a style.

This book is from the makers of the webcomic ‘War and Peas’. I am not a reader of webcomics, so I am not sure if this content is indicative of their general offerings. Perhaps fans of the comic might like to read this and see how it goes. But it sure wasn’t the right fit for me, sorry. The cover and the title do not represent the content accurately.

2 stars.

My thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “Once Upon a Workday”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Loved the title, and the cover art grabbed me. Unfortunately, this wasn't my favorite. And that's ok. Not every book has to suit every person. I think a big part of what I didn't love was that the first "story" (chapter? piece?) was a clear parody on Dr. Seuss. Maybe I've been around the block enough that this doesn't feel very original to me anymore (riffing on existing well-known pop culture), but there you go - it didn't feel very original. The rest of the book is more of the same, but with less of a direct "Dr. Seuss" feel to the parodies, which left me unsure whether they were all supposed to be in that vein and just missed the mark, or if the rest were just supposed to be nursery rhyme-style parables about humorous adult situations. I do think that both the writer and artist have a lot going for them and have a lot of great ideas. The execution just fell somewhat flat for me.

I feel a bit badly about leaving this review because if I had been able to tell from the cover or description that this book was themed around Dr. Seuss parody, I would have skipped it, because I already know that's not my cup of tea. But I did read it, and when I read a book I try to leave a review that provides at least some productive feedback. So that's my real takeaway here for the publisher: it's in your best interest to be sure the potential reader knows what this contains. Because conversely, you're missing a potential audience - the sort of people who would love a Dr. Seuss parody but can't tell from the cover that that's what this book is about. I think that if you can make it a bit more obvious, and thereby get this book into those people's hands, you'll have good success.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.

Honestly I wasn't a huge fan of this one. The poems were cute and reminded me of Dr. Seuss which was a plus but there was just something that left me wanting. That said I wouldn't necessarily not recommend reading it.

I’ve never heard of the War and Peas webcomic but will definitely check it out after reading this. Once Upon a Workday is like a Dr Seuss book for adults. Quite whimsical and very fun. I can definitely relate to the first story! I recommend this to all adults who work the daily grind every day! It’s really short so I’m not sure I’d pay $18.99 for 54 pages but I did greatly enjoy the humor and artwork.

Thanks to the authors and publishers for the e-arc via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was very short, cute and creative. Completely in verse and with great messages. It felt whimsical and put a smile on my face :).

Very cute, despite its small size, it was enjoyable for me, and the drawings were nice and expressive. I very much loved the idea behind this work. In a comedic way, work is described in this book, the idea of ​​a person killing himself for the sake of work or a job without caring that himself is the first job that he must take care of.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I think everyone will find one story (or poem) that they can relate to in this book. For myself, it was the second one.

Cute book that would make a fun gift.

This graphic novel summed how it feels to have to work and still make time for yourself and your mental health in a light and funny way. I was laughing out loud while I read this because it was so relatable. I will definitely be keeping a copy of this on my bedside table for a little laugh before bed. I plan on purchasing multiple copies so I can give them to friends.

Told in rhyming verse and delightful comic illustrations, these stories cover everything from heartache and personal growth to creative burnout and searching for the elusive perfect email signature.

My favourite part of this book is the quality and charm of the illustrations. They are truly beautiful and create a unique world to accompany the topic matter. However, while the approach to the subject matter is charming, I felt the scansion and rhyming patterns were a little uneven throughout giving the feel of an 'imitation Dr Seuss' rather than an engaging poetic metre that adults would feel comfortable diving into or keeping as a coffee table read. From the visuals, I so wanted the poetry to work and be as tight and clever as the illustrations. Sadly, as the chapters continued the quality of the rhymes wore thin and lacked a punchline or twist that would have made me smile. 'Sincerely Yours' is a prime example of this. The idea is great, but the delivery of the setup and payoff feels anti-climactic.

I am not sure who the audience is for this book. Second-language readers may have fun exploring the rhyming. But as it deals with adult scenarios the quality of the poetry feels lacking for an adult audience. A shame with such characterful and clever accompanying artwork.

A pleasant little book for anyone who has struggled with why they work, will they ever sleep, and why they even bother doing what they do.
Like a grown up Dr. Seuss, the rhythm and rhymes work their magic in making you smile.
Thanks to @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

In the style of Dr. Seuss, this collection tells of the beauty of small, everyday moments, while giving some advice.

Ironic and to be read from time to time.

I really liked this Dr. Seuss-ish kind of illustrated book. The rhymes were fun and the stories very accurate to real adult life. There are a few little stories the represent adult life and its struggles in a fun way and I really enjoyed this

I enjoyed the Dr. Seuss rhymes and the illustrations. It's more a collection of inspirational stories than a story itself.

"Once Upon a Workday" is a cute little comic that looks at adult life in a fun way. Elizabeth Pich and Jonathan Kunz channel their inner Dr. Seuss, which made me laugh. I definitely related to many of the stories. My favorite was A Job is a Job. Highly recommended if you need a quick laugh when you just can’t adult at the moment.

Thank you to Elizabeth Pich, Jonathan Kunz, and Andrew McMeel Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

These stories of heartache, self-doubt, family conflict, and employment help turn the struggle of becoming an adult in today’s world into something playful, punny, and profound. Once Upon a Workday will console and inspire the burnt-out professional in all of us.

I loved the vibes of this book, it reminded me of Dr.Seuss with all the rhymes and as an adult it motivated me to make more time for myself. "A you is a you, and you must also have fun" was one of my favorite lines. Thank you NetGalley for this great read.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

So cute! My favourite poetry stories were the first one, and the one about signing off on emails. This entire collection of work from the stories to the art itself was very whimsical and very much reminded me of Dr.Suess! This was a quick, heartwarming read, and easily accessible to those who are not familiar with poetry all the much, or even enjoyable for advanced readers.