Hello, Sun by Julie Downing

Hello, Sun by Julie Downing. Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2024. 9780823452057
Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4
Format: Hardcover picture book
What did you like about the book? “Hello Sun” presents an exuberant examination of a day.  The sun begins to rise, pushing the night away.  At first it is chilly, but slowly the “Yellow spills into day.” Each illustration vividly, gorgeously portrays the changes that the rising of the sun brings.  The animals come out, as do the insects. Birds build nests and lay eggs.  As the heat grows, some animals get drowsy, turtles nap.  In the cooler places, there are butterflies, rabbits stealing cabbage as hawks fly overhead.  The sun is starting to sink creating shadows.  Some animals and birds get ready to sleep. The sun is gone, “Hello, moon!”
The exquisite illustrations were created with colored pencil, watercolor, and liquid acrylics on cold press watercolor paper and then combined digitally.
Anything you did not like about the book? No.
To whom would you recommend this book? This might make a nice bedtime story – or perhaps read at breakfast time.
Who should buy this book? Public libraries and day-care centers
Where would you shelve it? Picture books
Should we (librarians) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? No.
Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City: Katrina Yurenka, Retired Librarian, Contributor, Youth Services Book Review
Date of Review:  June 5, 2024