By Christine McFaul
Sun In My Tummy is a new Canadian picture book by author Laura Alary and illustrator, Andrea Blinick. This cozy nonfiction story reads like fiction and follows the cycle of photosynthesis from sunlight to energy. The book begins with the rising sun. Its rays gently wake the young female protagonist who knows she needs to wake up and get ready for school but would prefer to stay snuggled in her bed (relatable!).
But the book says it’s time to “put the sun in your tummy!”
Alary then goes on to unpack that metaphor using the oatmeal, blueberries, and milk that make up her young protagonist’s sleepy breakfast.
The Oats: Began as “seeds, snuggled deep in the dark earth.” The story explains how those seeds use food from the soil, rain from the clouds, and sunlight to grow. It introduces the concept that hidden inside of these plants “were all the things that had made them grow…”
The Blueberries: The story then takes a closer look at how plants make sugar or “food from thin air!” Here the reader learns that when seeds go back to the soil, they make new plants, which make more seeds, and on and on the cycle goes.
The Milk: The final spin through the cycle builds on the concept that plants become food for others, in this case, the cow who provides milk which is the final ingredient in the protagonist’s breakfast.
I love the circular nature of each journey through the chain of photosynthesis, done in accessible and pretty language. Each turn layers beautifully on top of the other until the young protagonist—and young readers—understand the meaning of having the sun in their tummy.
Now let’s talk about the pictures, which are just adorable. They are warm and full of clever details (like cow spots on the carton of milk and a bright sun on the belly of the protagonist’s red t-shirt) alongside cozy morning rituals (mugs of tea, fuzzy slippers, and sleepy slouching at the table). Blinick is a mixed media artist, and the cut-out effect is beautifully used in this book. The palette is reminiscent of a country kitchen, with an abundance of golds and yellows interspersed with green, red, and blue. The sun is ever present, and each spread gets brighter and brighter until the protagonist is awake, energized, and ready to start her day.
For those of us that like a fictionalized feel to our nonfiction, this book delivers. It’s accessible, fun, and informative but does not scrimp on the science (there is even a one-page Author’s Note describing the process of Photosynthesis). It could just as easily be read as a bedtime story as used as a learning tool in a classroom environment. An excellent choice for parents, caregivers, or educators. Loved this read.
Thank you, Pajama Press, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.