Kirkus gives a starred review to HELLO, SUN! by Julie Downing

Sunshine brings a fresh new beginning.

Rays of sparkling sunshine herald a new day. Resplendent colors light up the landscape, leaves uncurl, opening to catch the sunlight, and diurnal animals, birds, and insects awaken and come out to forage, frolic, and, when necessary, hide from predators. (Some creatures use the occasion to nap.) Greetings, daytime. So long, nighttime! But, for all its shimmering beauty, daytime is fleeting; before you know it, night shadows encroach. Soon, the sun will set, and it will be evening. The stars and moon will emerge, and just like that, it will be time to bid farewell to the sun and daylight. Told in charming, succinct verses that scan very well, this is a most worthy companion to Downing’s Hello, Moon (2021). Text and images meld wonderfully to bring a fresh perspective to what’s going on in nature during the daylight hours. The author/illustrator makes clear that each new day is radiant and full of possibilities. The text features numerous words beginning with S, perhaps paying homage to the word sun. The artwork, created with colored pencil, watercolor, and liquid acrylic, then combined digitally, is dazzling, with brilliant hues leaping from the pages. Children will especially appreciate—and learn from—the various animal activities depicted throughout.

Hello, sun; hello to a glorious new exploration of nature’s delights for young readers.