There's that sun again

Two friends ride out the ups and downs of life. It's true that we can have too much of a good thing: The sun shines "so the whole city can skip and jump and swing and smile in it," but it also burns so hot that "everyone steams up or melts down." Two pals, one with brown hair and tan skin, the other pale with dark hair, navigate the roller coaster that is life. When the hum of the day gets too loud for one child, the other is there, and the two sit together in peaceful quiet. When one youngster speeds down a hill and ends up taking a tumble, the other child is there to lend support. The text is lyrical, like stanzas of poetry, and though readers might want the words to rhyme, they don't have a structured pattern. The illustrations bring the contemplative words to life with often dazzling results, such as a scene of children riding sunbeams like swings. The artwork has a soft, brushed quality that suits the various natural, outdoorsy settings. The final pages show the children returning home to the loving arms of their caregivers. The story lends itself to interpretation and meaningful conversation about the cyclical nature of life and the realization that with support and resilience, we can meet almost any obstacle. Imaginative musings on the world, ideal for young wonderers.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.