Review by Booklist Review
Three sisters with big smiles and brown skin enjoy the warmth of the sunshine as they play outside. Middle sister Haala wants to follow what her older sister, Sanaa, does, but little Munira's interruptions impede Haala's efforts to squint at the sun like Sanaa. As the sisters spin to become one with the wind, the youngest sister breaks the spinning spell. As the three approach a pond, Sanaa tells her sisters to be quiet if they want to hear the secrets of the goldfish . . . but again Munira fails to comply. Haala realizes that Munira can't help herself, and that perhaps she should be more patient with the youngest one. The sisters help one another climb a tree, where they sit together on a branch and proclaim, "Together we are sunshine." The textured illustrations, with rich jewel tones, convey a deep and wondrous natural world, showing readers why the sisters are so eager to explore. A thoughtful contemplation on siblings, patience, and how patience can be an act of love and understanding.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Sunshine becomes a metaphorical thread connecting three brown-skinned sisters during a frolicsome afternoon in Thompkins-Bigelow's aptly written portrayal of sibling dynamics. Middle child Haala provides narration, expressing admiration for older sister Sanaa, the group's de facto leader, and impatience with younger sib Munira, who struggles to keep pace. While Munira's eager attentions and reactions repeatedly draw rebuke from the speaker, the eldest sibling's easygoing manner becomes a model that eventually draws the family together. "Her smile gives me some of her shine," Haala says of the eldest child, before paying that kindness forward to the youngest. When a storm rolls in, the trio attempt to magic away the clouds, winding down to a close that echoes the title's luminous sentiment. Employing digital techniques and watercolor textures, Figueroa captures the girls' expedition with brilliant coloring and etchinglike details that convey the ebullience of both the outing and the siblings' connection. Ages 4--8. (Oct.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A middle sibling describes the joys--and occasional challenges--of outdoor adventures. Sanaa, the trio's eldest, intrepidly guides her younger siblings through meadows and woods, over a lily pond, and onto the tall branches of a tree. Haala, who narrates, wants nothing more than to bask in Sanaa's exuberantly glowing energy, but younger sister Munira "always interrupts and makes me miss what Sanaa's doing." Munira blocks the sun, lags behind the others, and bumps into Haala. Haala's frustrations spill over, and the protagonist's frown makes Munira's grin vanish. But Sanaa is more forgiving; her giggles "make a person feel good," regardless of mistakes. Halaa soon learns to offer some shine, too, when Munira most needs a boost. Recognizing the power of kindness, Haala realizes that "we don't need magic wands. Maybe we just need us." Award-winning author Thompkins-Bigelow, recognized for creating books centering Black and Muslim characters, finds exquisite synergy with Figueroa's warm, welcoming art, which favors vibrantly golden and saturated chartreuse hues. Her engaging spreads invite audiences to dance with the dandelions, sway and spin to create a swish-swishing song, listen for goldfish secrets, scale new heights, and even part the very clouds to call back the sunshine. All three characters are brown-skinned. A vivid celebration of the extraordinary power of sisterhood.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
