Southwest Sunrise

How glorious: a story about a black child experiencing the outdoors that is beautiful in every way. 

K-Gr 3--Moving is never easy, but it's particularly tough for Jayden, a child moving from New York City to a desert home in New Mexico. Jayden's transition from sullen to surprised, irritated to intrigued, is evident in his observant, lyrical narration. Initially he's convinced that "browns and tans are the only colors deserts are good for." Once he steps outside, however, he spies colorful "fancy-named flowers" like the winecup and yellow bells that he identifies using the field guide given to him by his mother. As he walks, he continues to spot more interesting plants and animals--hanging red chili peppers, black tips on magpie wings, and a kingly raven, so similar to the city's crows. Though Jayden will likely continue to miss his old home, readers can feel confident that he'll find new pleasures and treasures in his new one. Soft lines and gentle colors of gouache illustrations allow readers to share in Jayden's discoveries. VERDICT A useful purchase for libraries. This evocative and engaging title can be read on several levels.--Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at District of Columbia Public Library

The boy of color who stars in this story begins sitting in a plane seat with his arms crossed and a baseball cap over his eyes. Jayden is moving from New York to New Mexico, and he's not happy about it. But on his first morning there, he sees "a mountain/ striped in rainbow" out of his bedroom window: "Hey! Who put that there?" As he starts to explore, exquisitely drafted spreads by Minor (Hi, I'm Norman) alternate between close-ups--desert wildflowers, birds, a tiny lizard--and sweeping, light-filled desert landscapes. The boy's resentment begins to thaw: "Where was all this sky in New York City?" Lyrical lines by Grimes (Bedtime for Sweet Creatures) combine poetry (a flower called a wine-cup "spilling its burgundy beauty/ for me to drink up") with exclamations: about red rock pillars, "Daddy should've told me/ this new place has/ its own skyscrapers!" The boy's experience is touched with remarkable wonder and freedom; he walks alone with a guidebook to nature, musing about everything he finds. Grimes and Minor show what braving unexpected change looks like and introduce the idea of making friends with a distinctive landscape. Ages 3-6. (May)