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  • Published: 18 February 2026
  • ISBN: 9780593624968
  • Imprint: Nancy Paulsen Books
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $45.00

Just Right

  • Torrey Maldonado



Toby can always count on his amazing uncle to step up and make him feel loved.

Award-winning novelist Torrey Maldonado’s heartwarming picture book debut celebrates loving caregivers and highlights the powerful impact they can have on the life of a child.

Toby’s mom always says there are people that make you feel just right. And while his dad can be hard to please, it’s a different story with his amazing uncle. Uncle showers Toby with smiles, hugs, and kind words, and his garage is like a second home to Toby—there’s even a chair with Toby’s name on it next to Uncle’s desk! Yes, Toby can always count on Uncle to step up and make him feel just right.

  • Published: 18 February 2026
  • ISBN: 9780593624968
  • Imprint: Nancy Paulsen Books
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $45.00

Praise for Just Right


PRAISE FOR HANDS:
     “Gorgeous and gripping, Hands is a poetic page-turner. You might just finish it in one sitting. Torrey Maldonado understands the kids he writes for at the deepest level.” —Adam Gidwitz
    * “Maldonado’s story moves quickly, but it packs a punch. . . . Readers will feel a sense of the real community Trev has beyond his immediate family. They will also appreciate the complex supporting characters and feel hopeful for Trev’s future. . . . An absolute must-have.” —SLJ STAR
     “The characters feel relatable, and Trevor’s love for his community comes through clearly. . . . A short story with a lasting impact.” —Kirkus
     “Intense page-turner.” —PW
     “A powerful plot and an immersive text.” Booklist
     “An accessible, engaging, and heartfelt story.” —Horn Book
     “A genuine tale that is accessible to young readers. . . . Maldonado is seasoned at writing novels in urban settings. . . . Trev is a likable and strong character with a range of emotions that young readers will understand.”SLC
     “Torrey taps into a kind of writing we’ve been in dire need of for a very long time. And with his authentic voice and whole heaping helpfuls of heart, his latest book Hands is one that your kids are NOT going to want to miss. . . . A great deal of the book’s lure lies in its complications. Trev’s problem is anything but straightforward. . . . The author is being honest with the reader. Life is rarely tied up in a neat little bow, and in eschewing some kind of deus ex machina, the story is honoring the complications surrounding Trev’s life. . . . Homey and touching, complicated and unafraid to deal with paradoxes . . . the final product is ultimately a strong piece I’d hand to any kid willingly. Especially the kids that don’t even know it’s what they need. Yet.” —Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production


PRAISE FOR HANDS:
     “Gorgeous and gripping, Hands is a poetic page-turner. You might just finish it in one sitting. Torrey Maldonado understands the kids he writes for at the deepest level.” —Adam Gidwitz
    * “Maldonado’s story moves quickly, but it packs a punch. . . . Readers will feel a sense of the real community Trev has beyond his immediate family. They will also appreciate the complex supporting characters and feel hopeful for Trev’s future. . . . An absolute must-have.” —SLJ STAR
     “The characters feel relatable, and Trevor’s love for his community comes through clearly. . . . A short story with a lasting impact.” —Kirkus
     “Intense page-turner.” —PW
     “A powerful plot and an immersive text.” Booklist
     “An accessible, engaging, and heartfelt story.” —Horn Book
     “A genuine tale that is accessible to young readers. . . . Maldonado is seasoned at writing novels in urban settings. . . . Trev is a likable and strong character with a range of emotions that young readers will understand.”SLC
     “Torrey taps into a kind of writing we’ve been in dire need of for a very long time. And with his authentic voice and whole heaping helpfuls of heart, his latest book Hands is one that your kids are NOT going to want to miss. . . . A great deal of the book’s lure lies in its complications. Trev’s problem is anything but straightforward. . . . The author is being honest with the reader. Life is rarely tied up in a neat little bow, and in eschewing some kind of deus ex machina, the story is honoring the complications surrounding Trev’s life. . . . Homey and touching, complicated and unafraid to deal with paradoxes . . . the final product is ultimately a strong piece I’d hand to any kid willingly. Especially the kids that don’t even know it’s what they need. Yet.” —Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production