Sunshine, moonshine

Gr. 1^-2, younger for reading aloud. When the sun shines on his pillow, a little boy wakes up, plays on the beach, meets his father on the dock, goes sailing till sunset, watches the moon rise, chases fireflies, and goes to bed with the moon shining on his pillow. Armstrong tells the simple story with such grace that the text of Sunshine, Moonshine could easily stand on its own as a poem for young children. Interpreting the verses and showing the changes in light and colors through the day and evening are softly textured illustrations that pick up on images in the poem and extend the story. Firmly rooted in a child's experiences, this book makes a satisfying choice for beginning readers and an appealing read-aloud for younger children. --Carolyn Phelan

PreS-Gr 1‘This brief, poetic, circular tale follows a boy throughout the course of his active day. From the early morning when the shining sun wakes him until the "Moon shines on my pillow, and says good night to me," the out-of-doors beckons and his summertime adventures are recorded. The full-color, full-page oil or acrylic illustrations evoke a serene and beautiful seaside setting. They are realistically rendered, and background details add to the spare text. Beginning readers will appreciate the large-type print and repetition, although some of the vocabulary (fireflies, among, mountains) may be challenging. Sunshine, Moonshine will also make a gentle bedtime story for toddlers and preschoolers.‘Sharon R. Pearce, San Antonio Public Library, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.