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K-3
"Most people do not like rainy days," but Sunny, the smiling heroine of Krampien's authorial debut, is not one of those people. For Sunny, rain is welcome because it creates the perfect opportunity for using her big yellow umbrella. When a gust of wind sweeps Sunny up and away, it's her ability to see the positive in all situations that keeps her afloat. The wind carries her over the ocean and drops her in a boat, and Sunny decides that "she preferred boating just now to swimming." As more seemingly unfortunate events keep occurring (indeed, the book's structure recalls Remy Charlip's classic Fortunately), Sunny keeps her positive outlook, starting to cry only when she finds herself all alone in the middle of the sea. Her tears don't last long, for soon a group of friendly birds arrives to carry her back to shore. The illustrations, with backgrounds in shades of teal and with Sunny's umbrella, boots, and raincoat providing bright patches of yellow, have a vintage feel. Occasional panels mix with double-page spreads to keep the action moving forward. An effective vertically oriented panel spread emphasizes Sunny's descent from the sky into the stormy sea ("Down, down, down she fell into the boat"). A bright and cheery story reminding readers to look beyond the dismal and toward the good in challenging situations.
Reviewer: Emmie Stuart
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
March, 2020