Books For Keeps
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Articles
  • Past Issues
  • Latest Issue
  • Authors and Artists
  • Latest News
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
July 25, 2021/in Picture Book Under 5s Pre-School/Nursery/Infant /by Ellie
BfK Rating:
BfK 249 July 2021
Reviewer: Carey Fluker Hunt
ISBN: 978-1408358313
Price: £7.99
Publisher: Orchard Books
Genre: Picture Book
Age Range: Under 5s Pre-School/Nursery/Infant
Length: 32pp
Buy the Book

When the Sun Goes Home

Author: Momoko AbeIllustrator: Momoko Abe

Every day, wearing his best smile, the sun shines down on us and does his best to make us happy. Then, when the time is right, he hands over to the Moon. But what does the Sun do once he’s finished painting beautiful sunset colours everywhere? Where does he go when he dips below the horizon?

This engaging picture book invites us to step behind the scenes and visit the Sun at home, where we find him eating a solitary TV dinner, doing a jigsaw puzzle and practising his smile so that it will be ‘extra-specially bright the next day.’ Around his mirror are postcards with jolly messages.  ‘Be Awesome,’ reads one, and ‘Keep Shining,’ says the next. Well, that’s easy for the Sun.

Isn’t it?

And that’s when we notice a pile of self-help books – including ‘How to Make Friends’ and ‘The Art of Happiness’ – and realise how lonely and difficult Sun’s life must be. If only someone would smile back at him, or thank him for his work!  It doesn’t matter how many motivational messages you read – ‘Fake It Until You Make It’ only works for a while, and nobody can be positive all the time.

One day the sun decides to go home early, and the next morning he doesn’t feel like getting up. Forcing himself to do his duty, he shines so brightly that he comes tumbling out of the sky. Luckily the clouds are on hand to offer help. ‘No-one can smile all the time,’ they say. ‘People need rain just as much as sunshine. Trust us.’

So the sun does. And as the ensuing rainbow demonstrates, amazing things can happen when we stop trying to do everything alone and accept that we need a little help.

This warm and reassuring book about kindness and friendship has bags of emotional integrity and depth, and Abe’s graphic, almost poster-like artwork communicates clearly in a stylish and appealing way. Her story is well-rounded and satisfying, and will develop children’s empathy and insight, as well as their ability to talk about how they feel.

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
https://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Sun-goes-home.jpg 500 400 Ellie http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png Ellie2021-07-25 12:51:152021-07-25 12:51:15When the Sun Goes Home

Search for a specific review

Author Search

Search







Generic filters




Filter by Member Types


Book Author

Download BfK Issue Bfk 272 May 2025
Skip to an Issue:

About Us

Launched in 1980, we’ve reviewed hundreds of new children’s books each year and published articles on every aspect of writing for children.

Read More

Follow Us

Latest News

Margaret McDonald and her editors Alice Swan and Ama Badu win the 2025 Branford Boase Award

July 9, 2025

‘The magic of poetry by heart’ Champions of the 2025 National Poetry Speaking Competition Announced

July 8, 2025
IBC

New National Year of Reading launching January 2026

July 8, 2025

Contact Us

Books for Keeps,
30 Winton Avenue,
London,
N11 2AT

Telephone: 0780 789 3369

ISSN: 0143-909X (this is our International Standard Serial Number).

© Copyright 2025 - Books For Keeps | Proudly Built by Lemongrass Media - Web Design Buckinghamshire
Big Fred Gets Dressed
Scroll to top