Sunshine Moonshine by Jennifer Armstrong .... a short tale, the beauty of nature
Written: May 15 '02
Product Rating:
Pros: a simple, yet interesting tale which makes a great first reader
Cons: occassional variation in spoken rhythm can be tricky for new readers
The Bottom Line: If for no other reason get this title for the way it speaks in the eloquence of a child of the beauty and wonder of the world around us.
jiastar's Full Review: Jennifer Armstrong - Sunshine, Moonshine
Published by Random House this is an "Early Step into Reading" title. It is geared toward children in preschool or kindergarten primarily. But, as the words are easy, the type big, and the stories filled with lots of repetition they can help any child who is just learning to read.
"sun shines on the mountains, sun shines on the sea"
The Story
A boy is woken by the sun on a glorious morning. He spends time playing with friends, and then out on a boat with his dad. When the sun sets they return home. Then under the light of the full moon, the boy catches fireflies. Finally, with soft moonlight shining on his face, he falls asleep.
The book is a brief 28 pages, only 17 of which have text varying from one to two lines. The story is told in a comfortable rhythmic rhyme. Read aloud in soft tones this is a lovely bedtime tale, sure to inspire dreams kissed with golden and silver light.
"sun shines as it sinks into the ocean like a whale"
The Illustrations
These are some of the prettiest pictures I have ever seen in a kids book. Apparently done in watercolors there is a richness and believablity to every scene.
Sunrise --- water and mountains in lavendar hues, bright sparkles dancing on the bay, curtains fluttering in the windows.
Sunset --- sky ablaze in orange and yellow tones, sun casting a trail of gold on the waves, white foam in the boat's wake.
Night --- greyish clouds above, sparkling stars shining through, a path of silver on the bay.
Some nice detail in these as well.
people combing the beach in the morning light
men fishing - you can see the fishing line in a way that you can almost see the sunlight reflecting off it
a man painting the lighthouse
dad having to raise the sail
the fishermen, in the background of a later scene, with their catch
in the last scene, the grand escape of both a firefly from a jar and .... a crab from the boy's trusty backpack
moon shines as I try to catch the fireflies on the lawn"
Closing Thoughts
My daughter has outgrown this title, and started the journey into beginner chapter books. But, it was well loved and much read prior to that.
While the tale is simple, it is not boring. It spans one day, a glorious one, spent in sun and surf, on the waves and under the moon. It speaks in hushed, almost reverant tones, forcing you to stop and actually see the beauty of nature.
It speaks from the heart of a child, who still looks at the world and everything in it with a sense of wonder. Who has yet to lose the awe inspired by stars sparkling high, or a crab scuttling along a sandy beach.
And, as it is meant to be, this is an excellent early reader. The rhyme is not overbearing, and the patterns are enough to inspire confidence but do not cause the story to be dull or lifeless.
There has to be SOMETHING wrong with it
OK OK, I'm a nitpicker, I admit it. But, I had to look hard for a flaw with this title.
The only thing I can comment on is that some of the lines seem to lose their flow. I found that I was occassionaly caught off guard by a change in the rhythm and this could cause young tongues to become a bit tied.
But, other than that, I wholeheartedly recommend this book for your little one as they start learning to read. I hope it becomes a lifetime passion for them.
In this easy-reader book, a young boy spends the day at the seashore and enjoys both the sunshine and the moonshine. Color illustrations accompany the...More at Alibris
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.