It’s amazing how many reincarnations of Margaret Wise Brown’s books maintain relevance to today’s toddlers, proving just how much she was in touch with children’s feelings. Originally published in 1952 and illustrated by Jean Charlot, this simple, lyrical text describes the dawning of a new day for four young children as they wake up to roosters crowing, rabbits nibbling, flowers opening, birds singing and bees buzzing. “A squirrel pops out of his hole in the tree. / Who woke me up? / The sun! / The sun is up! / Wake up squirrel. / Frisk away.” Katz’s colorful illustrations have a painted-appliqué look with her signature outlined shapes and fabric patterns. Each round-faced cutie is depicted as a different ethnicity, but they all respond to the world in similar ways. It’s the morning after “goodnight moon”—time to wake up and welcome (back) a new day. (Picture book. 3-5)
