★ THE SUN WANTS TO PLAY by Vikram Madan, illus. by Jashar Awan (STARRED REVIEW)
Review Issue Date: December 15, 2026
Online Publish Date: November 9, 2026
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: March 9, 2027
“A powerhouse author/illustrator combo brings the seasons to life in pure poetic display.
The book opens with an image of a brown-skinned child waking in bed. “I guess the sun was lonely— / That’s why she sent a ray / To knock upon my sleepy eye / And ask me out to play.” And play these children do. In spring they cavort with frogs, insects, and deer, experiencing showers and sun. With summer’s arrival, they hit the beach, holding seashells to their ears and gorging on ice cream. Now it’s autumn, and leaves fall to the ground as the air grows chillier. Winter means snowball fights and sledding, and as the book draws to a close, the child seen earlier is once again in bed, now lulled to sleep by soothing moonbeams. Mandan's text is comprised of a series of poems. Some are elaborate, while others are simple; all offer inspired and playful takes on various seasonal elements (for instance, fog is “the world playing hide-and-seek”). Caldecott honoree Awan’s illustrations perfectly complement Theodor Seuss Geisel honoree Mandan’s clever verse with pared-down but evocative digital art. A scene of marshmallows roasting over an open fire is spellbinding, the orange flames sharply contrasting against the black of night. The entire work is rife with similarly enchanting details. Characters vary in skin tone.
A standout among seasonal poetry collections, this book proves ideal each and every day of the year. (Picture book/poetry. 3-7)”
—Kirkus Reviews