Saving the Sun

The creators concoct an imaginative origin story for sunsets in this mystical picture book. The sun always shines on Summer Island, which Poppa and Luna visit each year, until one day the orb extinguishes itself by dipping into the ocean, which "sparkled and twinkled so invitingly." Discovering that "the sky looked all wrong," Luna and Poppa, both depicted with pale skin, attempt to make a rescue, relying on creativity and nature's abundance to lift the darkened sphere back into place. As night falls, they think they've solved everything, but the next morning dawns with no daylight, and so the resourceful pair once again rally companionable wildlife to lend a hand. Ugolotti's digital artwork applies coral and purple hues in soft spongy layers, forming an ideal partnership with Pearl's kindly vision of the natural world. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)

"Pearl cleverly employs a combination of childhood logic [...] and mythical magic to give this story the lush feel of a folkloric tale perfectly suited for little ones. Read this to youngsters [...] to remind them of the beauty behind the solar system science they'll soon be learning." —BCCB, starred review