
Children's Books
Picture Book Review: If I Was the Sunshine
The artwork also has these really surprising moments in them as well
We received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review Date: June 14th, 2019
Written by: Julie Fogliano & Loren Long
Cover Copy
If I was the sunshine
and you were the day
I’d call you hello!
and you’d call me stay
If you were the winter
and I was the spring
I’d call you whisper
and you’d call me sing…
Through clever, thought-provoking verse and warmly evocative art, New York Times bestselling storytellers Julie Fogliano and Loren Long explore the awe inspiring nature of relationships, love, and connection.
Review
Okay so this book is super adorable. It’s really fun because the comparisons that are made aren’t always… well, obvious isn’t the right word. But… on the nose maybe. Some of them are. This one for example “if I was an apple and you were a worm, you’d call me lunch and I’d call you squirm” is pretty simple to get to. Like you might be able to anticipate that one. But “if you were the winter and I was the spring, I’d call you whisper and you’d call me sing” is a little less easily-guessed. It’s honestly a fantastic description of the two seasons in this case, but it’s not the words you’d immediately think of to describe them. Which I really like. The whole book is filled with these clever comparisons and it’s really fun to read!!
The artwork also has these really surprising moments in them as well, where you just did not expect the picture you turn to. Some of the pages do a sort of zoom out for the reveal of the last line in each verse. But some others show a completely different view on the scene. My favorite example of this is the ocean and boat spreads. The zoom out, in this case, takes the mood from wild and dangerous, with waves crashing around this tiny boat… to calm and sweet, with a giant whale keeping the tiny boat afloat in really calm waters. I don’t know why I love it so much, but I do. I also love the firefly page because it’s just beautiful!
Anyway, I especially love this one. I have no doubt it will be chosen often for reading time!
Kid Ratings
- Font Readability: 10/10
- Kid Engagement: 9/10
- Mommy Engagement: 10/10
