PreS-Gr 1 It's a new day, and the sun is shining its energy into a special little girl, her mama, her breakfast, and the world all around. An ordinary routine becomes magical through rhythmic free verse and striking illustrations full of whimsy. The narrative takes readers through a delightfully simple explanation of how the sun is ultimately responsible for the oatmeal, blueberries, and milk in the girl's breakfast; children get a taste of photosynthesis along with their morning meal. Alary carefully creates sound, rhythm, and action, while precisely placing line breaks to enhance drama and pacing. Questions posed to readers within the verse prompt engagement and mindful consideration of their own experiences and opinions. Mixed-media artwork creates striking color variation and subtle dimension, lifting the illustrations right off the page and resulting in a natural flow throughout the story. Blinick's deliberate use of line moves the eye across the page in perfect accompaniment to the narrative, highlighting the story's theme of interconnection. The main character and her mother both have brown skin and straight black hair. VERDICT This book is as essential as sunshine; the absolutely beautiful STEM story is as absorbing as photosynthesis itself. Kate Davis

This cheerful picture book tackles photosynthesis by comparing the chemical process to magic (an author's note offers accessible explanations for the actual science). A brown-skinned little girl comes downstairs for breakfast: Mom's oatmeal. Lyrical prose encourages the girl to consider where the oats came from: "Seeds, snuggled deep in the dark earth, like you in your blankets. What woke them? The sun!" Next, blueberries and milk get their turns, with credit always circling back to the sun. Bright, page-filling illustrations with whimsical details (a cow in an inner tube floats in a cereal bowl) align with the text and offer visual reinforcement. The text does include some technical details but always in a naive, impressed way that supports the overall magical tone. Perfect for reading out loud, this engaging tale could be used as an introduction to elementary science units and also to encourage young readers to find the magic in everyday things.