How the Sun Was Brought Back to the Sky
by Mirra Ginsburg with pictures by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey/ published 1975 by Macmillan
Jose Aruego has always tended to illustrate in conjunction with another artist. From what I can tell reading about him online, he likes to draw and usually has another artist paint the pictures. It's seems like it would be a really cool way to incorporate your friends into collaboration.
My son's favorite of his is Milton the Early Riser, but this one has a really neat feeling assembling an all-star cast of animals to find out why the sun won't rise.
"Who is that shouting under my window?" grumbled the sun. "Who isn't letting me sleep?"
"Your friends -- the chicks, the magpie, the rabbit, the duck, and the hedgehog. We've come to wake you. It's time to get up."
The plot is a riff on a Slovenian Folk tale,and it is similar to the story in the old favorite Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears -- itself based on a West African folk tale. Simply put, I just love the way this guy draws wee little animals. I hate to use the word cute, but...
Also by:
The Chick and the Duckling
another childhood favorite of mine! Esp loved the pic of the lil' critters polishing up the sun w. rags & brushes...cute!
ReplyDeleteYou don't know what it means to me to find the title, author and illust of this book "How the Sun was Brought Back to the Sky". This was my favorite book as a child in the 70's. I could always remember the illustrations and storyline, but never the title nor author. Now I wish to know the folktale from which it was adapted. I've been searching the web for a time to try and solve that mystery. This sweet little book that I read as a child is the reason why I write my own stories today. Many thanks to the author and illust. Your SUN illuminated my childhood and continues to inspire me today!
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