April Patterson entered the world of For Better or For Worse in dramatic fashion when she was born at home during an ice storm on April 1, 1991. Since then she has continued to add surprise and sparkle to the Patterson family. Cartoonist Lynn Johnston has gathered her favorite strips about April, chronicling her fun-filled and rambunctious first 10 years. From the wonder she brought to the family as a tiny baby through her exploits as a toddler, her traumatic fall into a raging river and subsequent rescue by Farley, and her other adventures while growing up, making friends, and going to school, April's life is told through cartoons, new art, and written commentary. The Robert Tonner Doll Company is also celebrating April's 10th birthday with the debut of an April doll in August 2001.

リン・ジョンストンが描く物語の真髄は、時の流れを誠実に、かつ温かく捉えるリアルタイム形式にあります。本書が映し出すのは、嵐の夜に誕生した末娘エイプリルの十年間という、二度と戻らない瞬間の連鎖です。家族という有機体が共に成長していく過程を克明に刻んだ本作は、読者に生の尊さを再認識させる普遍的な魅力を放っています。 愛犬ファーリーとの絆や、命の危うさを感じる冒険を通じ、著者は子供が家族に与える変革を文学的な深みを持って描き出しました。著者自身の解説が添えられることで、物語は一層のリアリティを帯び、読者の心に自分自身の家族の記憶を呼び覚ますような、魂を揺さぶる感動を刻み込みます。