Adrienne Marie Brown

Sunrise, Moonrise Adrienne Marie Brown

Imagine dawn at sea. A school of fish makes a sudden turn, like a thousand shiny dimes spun from heads to tails. So begins the morning in the picture book, "Sunrise, Moonrise." Led by the rising and setting of the sun and the moon, children are guided through a day and night at sea. At sunset two narwhals prepare to duel. At midnight a swordfish slices through the night water. As the moon sets and the sun rises the next morning, the reader and listener are assured that cycle will repeat tomorrow. The manuscript is structured by similes, such that each sea creature is compared to a concept which is relatable to young readers. Jellyfish ignite dark, vast waters like a field full of fireflies flashing at dusk, while a pair of seahorses hover over the ocean floor like slow dancing puppets with invisible strings. "Sunrise, Moonrise" sets a tone of stillness as readers steadily sink into the magnificence of the underwater world. Parents of their young readers will be reminded of timeless, classic books from their childhood - an era when stories left much to the imagination and curiosity of the reader.