ACCESS DIGITIZED EDITION
Guide/Reviews Database
PRESCHOOL
Davis, Jacky

Sunny-Side Up

40 pp. | Greenwillow | February, 2021 | Trade ISBN 978-0-06-257307-0 $17.99 | Ebook ISBN 978-0-06-308960-0 $12.99
(2) PS Illustrated by Fiona Woodcock. A little girl wakes up joyfully, flinging out her arms in anticipation of the day. After waving goodbye to Mommy, she has breakfast with eggs sunny-side up, and Woodcock's mixed-media illustrations employ cheery shades and patterns, the sunny yolks echoed in yellow flowers on the table. The happy mood continues until she and Daddy pull up the shade "to let the sunshine in, and find / drips of gray sky covering everything." The room itself becomes a washed-out gray, reflecting the little girl's mood as she stomps angrily: "I don't want to be / stuck inside all day. / I want to go / outside and play." After some comforting from Daddy, she finds imaginative ways to play, such as making make-believe muffins and pies, and pretending to feed baby birds with "yarn worms." With each attempt, the illustrations' colors regain their warmth. But each time she looks out the window and sees the "drip drip drop," the room is suffused with gray once again. Finally, the clouds pass, and the girl gets some outdoor playtime before dinner (which includes a well-deserved treat) and bed. Davis's verse is a little choppy in places but captures the child's strong feelings well. It's a slice-of-life story that truthfully reflects the disappointment of a long, rainy day interspersed with moments of happiness and warmth, and it may resonate with families who have spent many days stuck inside during the pandemic.
Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2021

RELATED 

PRESCHOOL

The Farmer and the Circus
by Frazee, Marla
PRESCHOOL

Bird House
by Gómez, Blanca
PRESCHOOL

The Crow and the Peacock
by Fernihough, Jo
PRESCHOOL

Something's Wrong!
by John, Jory
PRESCHOOL

Grandpa Across the Ocean
by Yum, Hyewon
More

Get connected. Join our global community of more than 200,000 librarians and educators.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing.

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?