Book Review: What Should Danny Do? On Vacation!

Stories can have a powerful impact on children’s lives. Quality stories can transport us into the author’s world to experience the story as if we were a character ourselves. Because of this, children can learn valuable lifelong lessons, encourage their character growth, and help them make better decisions.

One such impactful book is “What Should Danny Do? On Vacation!” by Ganit and Adir Levy. This husband-and-wife author team has created a series of children’s choose-your-own-adventure books that show the power of our choices.

What Is the Book About?

The colorful, engaging book follows the main character Danny, an elementary-aged boy, as he heads on a resort vacation with his parents, younger brother, and best friend’s family.  Follow Danny as he makes choices kids encounter on vacation, like sharing toys, playing nicely, overcoming fears, and following directions.

Danny wants to be a superhero when he grows up, but his father says his most important superpower is the Power to Choose (or P2C). Each choice changes the outcome of his day: if he makes bad choices, he is met with consequences, but good choices are rewarded!

How Is the Book Written?

The book is written in a choose-your-own-adventure style, which allows your child to make Danny’s choices for him. You will read a few pages of the story that lead up to the next choice Danny has to make. You’ll read the prompt that gives your child Danny’s two choices. Then turn to the page number correlating to your child’s answer and resume the story.

The book has eight different endings, so your child can explore how different choices bring about different results throughout Danny’s day.

How Does the Book Help My Child?

Your child lives vicariously through Danny, seeing how each choice changes the course of Danny’s day. When Danny makes poor choices repeatedly, he gets more and more consequences. But when Danny makes good choices, he is happy and enjoying life. His friends and family have a fun vacation, too.

One choice Danny makes results in him temporarily losing his parents. This scenario is scary for parents and children alike, and it’s one that parents can forget to prepare their children for. But “What Should Danny Do? On Vacation!” gives parents the perfect opportunity to talk through this situation before it inevitably arises.

This book illustrates how it’s never too late to make good choices. If Danny starts his day yelling at his brother and selfishly holding onto his toys, his day doesn’t have to stay bad! He can choose to make better choices, altering the outcome of his day. The stories show how mistakes can be overcome.

How Can I Use the Book in Parenting?

“What Should Danny Do? On Vacation!” can be an excellent tool for teaching children the power of their choices, helping them see how their poor choices can get them in trouble, and offering hope for overcoming mistakes with good choices. Danny lives these choices for them, so they don’t have to!

This book is an excellent resource as you prepare your child for an upcoming vacation. The circumstances may not be identical (you may be going to the beach, etc), but the book will spark conversations about how to stay safe and have the most fun on vacation.

Use the book to illustrate your child’s own choices. The prompt “What should Danny do?”, easily transfers to their own lives–just replace “Danny” with your child’s name! When your child has a decision to make, ask “What should [child’s name] do?” and give them two choices. For instance, you can say “You need sunscreen before you can play in the pool. What should Caleb do, throw a fit and have a time out, or put on sunscreen so you can play?” Your child can recall Danny’s story and how good choices bring about rewards while bad choices only lead to consequences. This can help your child make good choices easily.

Is There More?

Yes!! Ganit and Adir Levy offer several other books:

  • What Should Danny Do? The original book follows Danny through a day at home with his parents and younger brother.
  • What Should Danny Do? School Day: Follow Danny through his elementary school as he makes decisions about schoolwork, friends, bullies, sharing, and more!
  • What Should Darla Do? Written in the same choose-your-own-adventure style, Darla is Danny’s cousin who needs to use her power to choose throughout her day
  • Super Girl Mindset: What Should Darla Do? Coloring Book: If your child loves the series, they’ll love to color in this book which reinforces their power to choose.

Where Can I Find the Book?

If you want to try the books out first, you can find these books at your local library. But because these books are excellent at every new development phase, you’ll want to have a copy on hand to use when the need arises. You can buy your own copy through many online retailers. The Levy’s website gives discounts on the books and also offers fun additional products, like P2C capes, Danny and Darla plushes, educator’s packs, and more!