I've been on high alert for picture books with weather themes and relationship themes, so I welcome suggested titles in the comments. You can probably guess that this interest is related to my own picture book release coming in July, IS IT OVER? In case you missed that news and are curious, check out the cover reveal news HERE.
Greenwillow, 2021
When I came across SUNNY-SIDE UP, written by Jacky Davis and illustrated by Fiona Woodcock, I knew it deserved a closer look. The cover had me hooked, and this unnamed rainbow-clad cutie is surrounded by an equally colorful rainy day.
From her first person voice we quickly learn that she wakes up sunny-minded (unlike some kids you may know), and she loves making choices. With a home-caring daddy who asks before serving, she loves her sunny-side up eggs, toast, and lip-purpling grape juice. All is well, until the shades are raised and ...drip, drip, drop!
That sunny mood does a full flop to tantrum emotions, soothed by a quiet hug and talk on Daddy's lap.
This lively child find ways to spend a drip, drip, drop day creatively, under the tablecloth/club house, or sliding, pretending, building, bouncing. It's a busy morning, a fun morning, but it's all indoors. The suggestion of an after-lunch nap triggers another outburst/cloudburst of temper, also soothed in a quiet conversation with Daddy. By the time Mommy comes home from work, the soggy, drippy day has cleared up, which rainy days always do, eventually. Their outing to the park, complete with still-wet grass and more conversation, is followed by spaghetti dinner, a choice of dessert, and bedtime stories.
The full circle and satisfying day is told through the age-appropriate voice of an imaginative, openhearted character In a blend of rhymed and unrhymed text. Just as her mood shifts and shuffles through the day, the color choices and perspective in illustrations do, too, alternating gray spreads with joyful rainbow ones as the story requires. The end papers set a pattern, opening with gray-toned drip-drops and ending with rainbow raindrops before the cover closes. All tones are pastel and kid-friendly, with art that invites connection and empathy.
Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2021
Another picture book take on weather that spans an entire year rather than a day. MORE THAN SUNNY is written and illustrated by Shelley Johannes. This oversized, vibrantly draw and colored design opens AND closes with end papers in solid sheets of pure sunshine yellow.
This story, too, features unnamed characters: a brother, sister, and mom. The images and story begin before the main text with a *KNOCK KNOCK* on a bedroom door. The page turn reveals that the older sister wakes with a sunny disposition, similar to the character above, but has a younger brother who needs more than a tad of convincing. it is also clear that she is up to the task, because company makes her happiness even happier.
In this story the language is as lively as it is lovely, playing with nouns, adding -y and -ly liberally, combined with oversized and in-your-face perspectives that draw readers along with the pair for outdoor adventures that span all four seasons. Here's a sample:
"It's rainy and wormy!
Hello, squirmy!
It's foggy...
and froggy!
Now soggy and doggy!"
In sharing thoughts about works-in-progress with other picture book writers, I've heard myself asking if there are ways they might add "layers" to the story. That term isn't really apt. "Layers" suggest that each aspect is readily recognizable, immediately apparent. As when the judges on a baking show comment, "Each layer is clearly visible". Books with this level of brilliance (pun intended) achieve the goal of sweeping readers into the story in a flourish of energy and meaning and heart, but leave a trail of invitations to "mop up" during repeated readings.
In this case, the passing of time is revealed through changing seasons, which also allows the sibling and family relationships to grow into a comforting resolve that allows this active daytime story to also serve as a bedtime book. Aspects of nature, persuasion, seasonal weather patterns, and word play, among other elements, combine with close-up consideration of the active, expressive art on individual pages. This is a book that teachers can use as mentor text for formal lessons on parts of speech and word modifiers, while preschools can clap to the crisp meter and develop early word awareness. Sunny-Side Up, by contrast, uses intermittent rhyme and shifting sentence patterns to suggest the narrator's personality and shifting moods, but would not serve the same purpose as this tightly metered rhyme with word play.
These SUNNY stories made my day, and I was excited to share them here. But before I could post this, a blog post by a scientist-writer-friend, Sue Berk Koch (with the help of her own faithful furry friend, Louie) landed in my email and it fit perfectly with my plans for this post. Sue's blog layers her accessible science content with engaging and attention-grabbing GIFs and links. Her topic this time is HAPPINESS, including the how and why and more. I urge you to read these two sunny picture books, and also Sue's blog post, 23 Ways to Be Happier, HERE.
PSST... Don't forget to drop suggestions in the comments about other weather, storm, relationship picture book titles you recommend!
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