Sun

Seasons with Granddad

by Sam Usher

A boy and his grandad set off on a scorching adventure in this companion to Snow and Rain.

It's the hottest day of the year, hotter than broccoli soup, hotter than the Atacama Desert, hotter than the surface of the sun. It's just the right kind of day for a boy and his granddad to go for a picnic. But as the sun beats down, Granddad keeps having to stop for a rest, and by the time they find the perfect picnic spot, some pirates have beaten them to it. Good thing they have enough food to share!

Genres: Picture Books, Summer, Adventure, Childrens, Pirates, Family, Storytime

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Sam Usher’s first book, Can You See Sassoon?, was long-listed for the Kate Greenaway Medal. He is also the author and illustrator of Snow, Rain, and Sun, the companion books to Storm, the first of which was long-listed for the Kate Greenaway Medal. He lives in England.

Reviews

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for my 365 Kids Book challenge. You can see all the books on their own shelf.

Another book I picked up just for the pretty cover. That image of the sand coming up to the bottom of the stoop is so striking. Loved the preparations for the adventure, loved the repeated ritual of walking and stopping to rest, which evoked the crossing of the desert in The Horse and His Boy, loved the unexpected conclusion. The whole thing is fun and evocative and bigger than life.

Library copy

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The hottest day of the year has arrived, and a boy and his grandpa are out on an adventure!

After Rain and Snow we now have Sun! This time instead of endless rain or mountains of snow, we have a very very hot summer day. It has been released perfectly in time for those hot summer months that are coming (well, at least here if the weather cooperates :P).

I loved the enthusiasm of the little boy, even though I am quite a bit older, I can still relate. Hot summer days are perfect for adventuring. Perfect for a picnic. And a quest for the best picnic spot ever (because you can't just have your picnic everywhere, you need THAT spot).

I loved seeing the grandpa and the kid adventure through oases, through the desert, and eventually meeting pirates! Oh my! I was at first worried our two adventurers would be captured, but something much better happens (and no, I am not going to tell).

The ending was great! I loved how, thanks to the grandpa and his photographs, this book came back to earth. We get a peek into the real day. It was good that the author added that. Showed us just how amazing imagination is.

Of course I am still loving the illustrations. They are gorgeous, and very very yellow. :P You can just feel the heat of the desert pop out of the pages, you can just feel the coolness of the water when we meet the pirates.

I would recommend this book to everyone. And I am hoping that this author/illustrator will be making more books about weather (maybe next time something with wind?).

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[KC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story of a boy and his grandfather and the incredible journey they imagine while taking a walk in the sun...

[Jukaschar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sehr schön illustriertes Bilderbuch mit wenig Text, aber viel Futter für die Imagination. Mein mittlerweile 4-jähriger Sohn bekommt es immer noch gerne vorgelesen, so als kleines Häppchen zwischen Episoden längerer Bücher.

[Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third in the series of book, following hot *sorry* on the footsteps of Rain and Snow with years enough between them for it to not feel like a production line. Having adored Rain for its Burninghamesque play between word and image, Sun does much the same yet still manages to delight.

Both the young boy and his grandfather are inside on a hot day. Whilst the boy might think it's too hot, his grandfather sees an opportunity for adventure. Armed with lunch, pad, compass, map and a wealth of youthful imagination, both head off around their locality. Grandfather job is to request a location 'somewhere cool' whilst our protagonist role is to seek them out. Soon the real world begins to be replaced by an imagined one, all to the private joy of the reader.

I love Usher's illustrations. Yes, there are hints of Quentin Blake here but the style and approach are still very much his own. A lovely picturebook which is sure to set off the imaginings of many a young reader.

[Ioana · Rating 5 out of 5]

citită și răscitită alături de fetița mea! 💛

https://ciobanuldeazi.home.blog/2023/...

[Seher Andaç · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sevgili güneş ☀️ hâlâ seviyorum seni ve hep de seveceğim:)

[Alex Baugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the hottest day of the year, a real scorcher, and a boy and his granddad decide to go on a picnic adventure. After packing their provisions, navigator granddad and lookout grandson set off to find the perfect spot for their picnic. As they walk and rest, walk and rest, and walk and rest some more, the hot sun beats down on them and the terrain they traverse becomes more and more imaginative while they look for a spot that is picturesque, in the shade, and has a cool breeze. Each time they stop, the story takes on more fantastic elements. When they finally come to a cave, they discover that someone else has discovered the same spot - the perfect picnic spot. Provisions are gathered and shared with a family and a bunch of pirates on a pirate ship that becomes increasingly more opulent. How much of this story is real and how much is pure imagination? Let your little ones be the judge. There are hints to be found throughout the story. This is such a delightfully playful book that nicely highlights the intergenerational relationship between grandson and granddad, and who really know how to make the most of unpleasant weather conditions. And the ink and watercolor illustrations capture not only the heat of the hottest day of the year but also the coolness of the cave and the house. This is a jolly companion to Usher's other grandson/granddad adventure stories (Rain, Snow, and the soon to be published Storm).

[Sue Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little boy wakes up on the hottest day of the year and his Grandad decides it is the perfect day for an adventure.

I love the page illustrating all the necessary provisions, truly it is enough for me to start packing up for an adventure now. I love the pages that show 'the sun beat down'. Sam Usher draws and paints huge skies which just radiate the heat. The impact is fantastic, the boy and Grandad and the landscape just inching on to the bottom of the page.

Grandad likes to stop for a rest every now and then, that's the beauty of Grandad's, providing time for the adventure to begin, look carefully for the clues and the story starts to develop. They reach a cave, somewhere cool and out of the sun, only to find they are not the first....'if you keep looking, you never know what you might find'.

I think I would like to paint those hot, dry skies, and add descriptive vocabulary to Sam Usher's 'the sun beat down'. I'd like to go on an adventure too, and appoint a navigator and look out, and draw maps and fill up treasure chests.

This is a super book.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book about a picnic adventure on a scorching hot day - with grandpa and his grandson. Kids enjoyed it. Also the art is nice to look at.

[Gayathri White · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful story of adventure, with some great illustrations

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful and repetitive!

[Courtney Kleefeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If you keep looking, you never know what you might find."

[Mandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the illustrations & the adventure the grandad & boy have 💙

[Raven Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comfortable book. Deals with the generations, patience and imagination.

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finally finished Seasons with Granddad. Sun was last for me. It's so hot and the kid and granddad want to go for a picnic. I remember picnics. I enjoyed them, but I didn't like them on hot days. We get a hot day and I'm not leaving my house unless there is water to cool off in. I'm thinking of how to survive the heat. They decide to go for a picnic. Good on them.

I love the humor. They are hunting for a shaded spot and it looks like they are crossing this panoramic desert. It's funny and that's how it feels. The formula is a little different. Grandpa doesn't waste as much time in the house. The house is the same. As soon as they go looking, the surrealism begins. This one was cute. It's plenty hot here just like that.

I'm only halfway through summer and I dont know how I'm going to survive two more months. ugh. The heat is so hard on me. August is staring me in the face. It's always so brutal. I just hope there is relief. Summer seems to go on forever and I always fear it will never end.

The artwork is done in ink and watercolor. The artwork is fun and fancy and funny.

Kids who enjoy funny picnics will enjoy this.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the third book by Usher that focuses on a specific type of weather, this one is sun-filled and summery. Told in the first person by the boy, he awakens to a sunny day that is just right for an outdoor adventure even if it’s “hotter than the Atacama Desert.” The two set off together with provisions and a large map. They walk and walk until they discover just the right place for a rest. Then they walk some more until they found some shade. More walking brought them to a huge cave. But when they enter, they discover some real adventure inside.

Usher’s books are told very simply. This picture book starts out as entirely reality based and then takes a marvelous fantastical turn when the pair enters the cave. All along, it is hinted at that they are walking on a real journey. The illustrations help tell this tale, showing huge skies, long areas to traverse and a changing landscape. User uses watercolors for the skies, creating vistas filled with summer heat colors that swirl on the page.

A winner in a great series, this one is just right for summer reading. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

[Alena Medae]

A little boy observes that the day is hot, hot, hot. He thinks it's too hot to do anything, but his granddad says that it is the perfect day for a picnic. The boy and his granddad go on an adventure to find the "perfect" spot, sometimes in the sun and sometimes in the shade. The little boy is the lookout while the granddad navigates. Eventually, they run into some pirates in a cave!

This story is so well illustrated but I do think it could use a little more text. It needs more details. I do like the exciting pirate twist at the end of the story. The moral of the story is "if you keep looking, you never know what you might find." I relate to this in my daily life and would like to read more books with this theme.

Kids love pirates, so I think students will enjoy this story! I would let students read it independently during silent reading or read it to them before recess. It would go well with a unit on weather.

[Jeimy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the whimsy of Usher’s FOUND, so I was eager to dive into Sun and explore more of his work. While I initially found myself questioning the decision to have a picnic on a blazing hot day (maybe that’s my Caribbean side talking, since every day is already hot!), the search for shade and a breeze was still something I could relate to.

Then, of course, came the whimsical twist—a delightful pirate ship that instantly reminded me of the Vasa! That surprise added the perfect amount of charm and adventure, making up for my initial doubts about their picnic plans.

Overall, this story was filled with whimsy, and while it wasn’t my favorite of Usher’s, the magical ending and those beautiful illustrations were the book's saving grace.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sun by Sam Usher. PICTURE BOOK Candlewick Press (Templar Books), 2017. $17.
9780763699499

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

A boy decides that the sunny morning is perfect for adventure. As the boy describes how hot the weather is, Granddad decides that it’s the perfect day for a picnic. The boy and his granddad navigate through the sunny day to find the perfect adventure and picnic location.

A fun story! The illustrations are perfect for this book. The reader can feel the heat of the sun as the two adventurers explore. There is also some new vocabulary for young readers to discover and learn.

Diann, Media Specialist
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before you even open this book the texture of the imprinted words and the glitter from the sand on the cover make you realize this book is going to be something special. While the premise is such a simple concept, a boy and his grandfather going on a picnic on a sunny day, the extra stories and ideas you glean from the words and illustrations are wonderful. I am definitely going to be using the similes near the beginning of the book as some of my new mentor similes in class: "hotter than broccoli soup", "hotter than the Atacama Desert", and "hotter than the surface of the sun." I can see so many pages being wonderful for discussion starting points or writing ideas for students. I'm excited to see the other books in this series and how they can be used and enjoyed in the classroom too.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant! I love this series that is about the weather, but really has the relationship of the grandfather/grandson at the heart of it. Usually the Grandpa does a bit of stalling before they get to set off on their adventure, so it was refreshing that they dived right in!

(Aside: I wonder why broccoli soup is the hottest soup? And thank you for the bit about the "Atacama Desert" because I had never heard of that before and looking it up and reading about it was fascinating!)

Their adventure contains the usual diversions off the path and a grand twist at the end. Altogether lovely, and I think I will just have to buy this series!

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this one twice, because I wasn't sure how I felt about it the first time. Consensus: I quite like this book. The illustrations are cute and imaginative (I'm guessing that the Grandpa and boy imagined having a picnic with pirates and trekking through the desert, and it didn't actually happen. OR DID IT??). A boy and his grandpa go out for a picnic, and have to find the perfect spot. There are several parts with repeated lines that could make it work in a storytime. Some of the more advanced words would be tricky (navigated, provisions, picturesque) but could also be fun to explain since there aren't an overwhelming amount.

[RosaDG · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the complicity between a child and his grandfather arises the opportunity to seek new adventures and especially if outside the house, the sun shines splendidly. Beautiful illustrations and beautiful message!

Haur baten eta aitonaren arteko konplizitatetik abentura berriak bilatzeko aukera sortzen da eta batez ere etxetik kanpo eguzkiak ederki distira egiten du. Ilustrazio ederrak eta mezu ederra!

De la complicidad entre un niño y su abuelo surge la oportunidad de buscar nuevas aventuras y especialmente si fuera de casa, luce un sol espléndido. Preciosas ilustraciones y precioso mensaje!

[Alyssa Oldenburg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intended Audience: The intended audience of this book is preschool to second grade.
Key Themes & Topics: This book is about a boy who goes on an adventure with his grandad. It is a sunny day and they seek to find the perfect picnic spot. They try to find a space with shade and a cool breeze so they are not in the sun on the hottest day of the year.
Why This Book: I chose this book because it is good for teaching children about the sun and how to be safe in the sun. The book is also a very fun read as at the end of the book the boy and his grandad sail on a ship and have a picnic with pirates!

[FM Family · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this aspirationally because there's this part of me that really wants to enjoy this series. I love the illustrations. I love stories about kids and their grandparents. But just like every other story in this series, I felt like it didn't quite work and didn't quite make sense. I will still read Storm though, just to know. My three year old liked the texture on the cover and the funny birds inside, but not much else.

[Mary-Alice Shavers · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Sun" takes you through a sunny day a little boy and his granddad had. They were on a hunt for a great picnic spot. They would travel far and then take a moment to rest. They navigated their way to a pirate ship in which they shared lunch on board.

I did not like this children's book because the dialogue repeated itself too many times.

Even though I wasn't very fond of this book, it would be good to have on a kindergarten book shelf.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have read this series before, you know that the picnic the grandfather and grandson go on in this story will likely expand into a bit of a dreamscape. Not the detailed illustrations as they pack for this picnic as there may be much to talk about while sharing this story with others.

If you need stories that honor spending time with grandparents, get Sam Usher's series in your collection.

[Juliana Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hotter than the sun, but granddad says it's a great day for a picnic. The grandson is the lookout for the perfect spot. Granddad gives him clues until they come upon a cave where a troop of pirates are already there. They help the pirates get their provisions ready and then they all have a picnic lunch together.

[Colona Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series about the Weather. Every book involves the same grandfather and grandson. The grandson is excited for the season change and is always waiting for his grandfather to get outside. In this book it is sunny. The Grandfather wanted to go on a picnic. Together they looked for thee perfect spot. They always have such an active imagination.

~April