Sun and Moon

Reviews for Lindsey Yankey's previous book, Bluebird At the end of this visual treasure, Bluebird soars happily with the wind through the clouds in a seemingly limitless sky. - Booklist, starred review A story of a missing friend found and of confidence gained, Bluebird by Lindsey Yankey is pure pleasure. It is a quiet, thoughtful story wrapping around you like a warm hug. This is a book meant to be shared anytime with anyone. - Librarian's Quest Bluebird is a delightful story with luminous art which will send imaginations soaring. - Sturdy for Common Things This beautifully illustrated children's book begins with the moon wanting to trade places with the sun for just one day. But as lush images of poppies blossoming in the sun are juxtaposed with baobab trees blossoming in the moonlight, and children playing in the sun in the daytime then dreaming in the nighttime, Moon is reminded of all the wonderful things he gets to experience each night. Eventually, under amazingly bright fireworks, Moon realizes he would not want to give up any of his nocturnal experiences for even one day. A sweet story of appreciating what one has is brought to life through Yankey's incredible artwork. Using a mix of oil paint and watercolor, linoleum block print and collage, she fills each page with details children will keep discovering with each read. Rebekah Rine, Watermark Books & Cafe, Wichita, Kansas Sun and Moon by Lindsey Yankey is a beautiful reminder to children and adults alike that, if we look at them closely, our own lives hold far more delight and surprise than we ever imagined. When the moon envies the sun's view and begs to trade places, the sun asks the moon to look spend one more night looking closely at the earth before they seal the agreement. When moon obeys, the world magically reveals itself, and moon realizes it is just what and where it should be. Yankey's exquisite and detailed illustrations reveal new things with each viewing. Kelly Barth, Raven Book Store, Lawrence, Kansas The artwork, which combines collage, cut-outs, porcelain block, and inks, is expertly used to create a beautiful and stunning modern-day folktale. The detailed, stylized artwork is perfectly in tune with the text. VERDICT A terrific book pulled together with wonderful artwork. A treat for the eyes and ears. School Library Journal, Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library, CA Luminous, intricate illustrations light up this tale of a lonely Moon, who yearns to trade places with the wise Sun. Imagining the wonder of watching flowers bloom and children play, Moon eagerly proposes the switch--but Sun makes two preconditions: first, the exchange must be permanent, and second, Moon should first spend an entire night looking down at Earth more closely than ever before. Yankey lays flat, cut-paper figures of pale children, bright carpets of delicate flowers, sinuously elongated wild creatures, and flowing lines of landscape over backgrounds of deep, starry darkness. With this technique, she shows the astonished Moon city lights shining out, sleeping children flying through magical dreams, baobab flowers floating like ghosts, raccoons scampering on mysterious errands in the silvery forest, and fireflies gleaming like low stars. All of these are prof ound revelations, and by the time Sun returns, the enthralled Moon has changed his mind completely about ever losing them. The narrative describes Moon's discoveries in sonorous but unaffected language. A lovely tale to share, day or night. (Picture book. 5-8) Kirkus Reviews Lindsey Yankey's (Bluebird) stunning illustrations call to mind batik patterns and colors in this folktale-like story of Moon, who wishes to spend 'just one day' as the sun. A nighttime palette of violets and olive greens sets the scene. As Moon imagines the Sun's sights, the pages explode with poppies and black-eyed Susans that match the golden globe in the sky. A carnival-like atmosphere pervades as a parade of children balance on intricately patterned balls, and hold pinwheels and exotic banners. In another two-page spread, of 'tigers sunbathing, ' one wraps its tail like an outline around the sun while another encircles a patch of flowers. At the book's midpoint, Sun and Moon appear together, separated by a mound of plants and butterflies. Sun spells out the conditions for the exchange: 'First, if we trade, it will last forever, not just one day. Second, you must spend an entire night... looking very closely at the earth.' As the moon fulfills the requirements, he sees the evening equivalent of his fantasies of daytime: a nighttime carnival, and foxes leaving the circle of their den. Moon also sees 'children dreaming': riding astride a goose, on a sailboat, in a helium balloon. In a nod to The Little Prince, Moon views the blossoms of a baobab tree and watches a lamplighter at work. A mother owl who'd left her nest at the start of the book returns at the close with a meal for her young. Yankey's gentle message suggests that when we pay attention, our daily routines take on new meaning. Shelf Awareness It's an endearing and gratifying story of acceptance and patience, but it's Yankey's simply stunning illustrations that make this such a joy to pore over. In warm, saturated hues and tapestry-like textures, she paints gorgeous, captivating spreads of bold red poppies towering in the foreground of a field of wildflowers; lanky tigers stretched out in pools of sunshine; and a bunk bed of sleeping children, rendered in delicate, whisper-thin lines and muted tones, dreaming of boisterous colors and madcap adventures. Each wide-format, two-page spread is a beautiful composition on its own, but together with the gentle lines of the story, they invite close, slow examination, just as the pale-green moon must look carefully to notice the splendid magic of the night. Truly enchanting. -Booklist STARRED REVIEW!, Sarah Hunter In a fablelike story about greener grasses and discovering wonder in one's own circumstances, the moon wishes to take the place of the sun for a day: 'Moon imagined Sun saw beautiful sights like flowers blooming, children playing, and tigers sunbathing.' While Sun agrees to switch places, there are two conditions--that Moon agrees to take on Sun's role forever and that he must first closely observe what unfolds on the Earth during the night. Yankey's (Bluebird) poetic descriptions provide ample opportunity for her inky, enigmatic artwork to flourish. After dark, Moon observes gold-inlaid elephants forming a towering canopy for a nighttime carnival, lean foxes awakening in a den of wildflowers, and exploding fireworks that resemble stained glass. He also witnesses the whimsical dreams of children, boys and girls borne aloft in sailboats, a goose, and hot-air balloons. Ornamental detailing, collage elements, and delicately penciled figures that call to mind 19th-century children's book illustrations (a gangly lamplighter could be kin to the Mad Hatter) combine to create a lyrical reverie. Ages 4-8. (Apr.) Publisher's Weekly Being happy with who you are and what you have instead of yearning for what lies beyond reach is a good message for children to learn, and this book teaches this brilliantly through the story of Moon who, after a lifetime in darkness, wished to spend one day as the Sun. Sun Herald Sun and Moon by Lindsey Yankey is one of those books that young children will want to hear and look at again and again and that parents will enjoy reading and sharing with them. For children who are a little apprehensive about the dark, Yankey provides some good reasons, in both words and pictures, to appreciate the dark night and its beauty. Yankey also provides a subtle message about the importance of really looking at and appreciating what you have rather than coveting what someone else has. Share Sun and Moon with your children as both a bedtime and an anytime story. About.com, Elizabeth Kennedy, Children's Books Expert 5 stars review! Sun and Moon is an October 2015 Midwest Connections Pick, by the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association!