When Sunlight Tiptoes

A family welcomes the start of a new day when "sunlight tiptoes over our eyes" in this reiterative picture book, composed as a pantoum whose interwoven quatrains appear on successive pages. Lines articulate sensory details as the family experiences the sights, smells, and sounds of their friendly city: "The flowers are out for show, / and fruits bask in the stands./ Each yellow pop shouts, 'Hello!'/ We carry sweetness in our hands," Sze writes. Kim casts delicate 3-D dioramas in spring-like hues, showcasing the interracial family's loving care for one another in several images of the sedate trio hugging or holding hands. Scenes turn fantastical when pigeons carry aloft the light-brown-skinned child protagonist, and a concluding moment emanates warmth as the trio relish the sun, the poem having come full circle for a satisfying read. Ages up to 2. (Mar.)

PreS-K--A beautiful celebration of morning as a family of three enjoys the energy of the baker sugaring tarts and the light that is opening up the skies. Told in a closed pantoum form (Malayan), the verses almost become circular as phrases echo or harken back to previous pages. VERDICT Accompanied by soft illustrations that match the morning mood, this is a wonderful way to begin a day with children and set them up to speak to their own beginnings.