Too Early

PreS-K–A young child is the first one out of bed, quietly waking up Mama and Daddy from their slumbers. The parents remind the little one not to wake the baby, but there is nothing to fear. The child, like the morning, is tranquil and quiet, just looking for some reassurance and affection. The child and Daddy get some drinks and snuggle on the front porch to enjoy the gentle dawn. While at first it seems as if the child woke too early, it’s just in time. The lovely use of color in the illustrations conjures the sense of security and peace that comes with the promise of a new day. The cool blue of predawn shifts to the purples and pinks of sunrise and then to the bright yellow of the emerging sun. The wonderful and familiar details, such as the hallway night light, the half-dozing/half-awake shuffle of the father before the coffee kicks in, and the doggies doing their morning upward and downward stretches, bring the morning to life. Onomatopoeia and descriptive language throughout the text make this a great selection for language arts integration.