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SUNNY DAYS by Deborah Kerbel

SUNNY DAYS

by Deborah Kerbel ; illustrated by Miki Sato

Pub Date: Aug. 24th, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-77278-197-7
Publisher: Pajama Press

Young children delight in sun-filled activities throughout spring and summer.

From its bright, wondrous wake-up call to its gentle, gradual goodbye, the sun is a friendly constant, providing warmth, light, and opportunities to explore the outside world. Children are depicted taking part in familiar activities such as reading in an outdoor patch of sunlight, planting seeds, making mud pies, and swimming at the beach. These experiences take place in an urban landscape, grassy yard, farm, and beach with lighthouse in the background. Similar to the text in its companion book, Snow Days (2020), simple rhyming couplets create a playful, upbeat tone: "Ocean sun: flash and glimmer / Kick and paddle, little swimmer." A vivid color palette bursting with highly saturated hues pairs well with collage to create richly layered scenes that will capture young readers’ interest. The changing position of the sun and use of embroidery for its rays evoke various moods and signal different times of day in each spread. The use of mixed media allows various textures to jump off the page, giving the book an almost 3-D feel. The multiracial cast of children featured have a diverse mix of skin tones and hair colors.

Radiates joy and the carefree fun of days in the sun.

(suggested activities) (Picture book. 2-5)