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Sunshine on My Shoulders
A book on CD for kids, Sunshine on my Shoulders follows the lyrics of a song by John Denver making it the perfect sing along book for toddlers. This preschool music book is a great teaching tool for young readers about the world around us and our responsibility to preserve and protect it. This exuberant adaptation of John Denver's famous song is "sure to make you smile," even on a dark and cuddly evening with your child. It helps if you can sing―the musical score is included―or just pop in the CD that comes with the hardback edition of the book. Sunshine On My Shoulders celebrates friendship, sunshine and the simple joy of being together. A charming little girl and her father (who kind of looks like John Denver) enjoy a day together in the sun with a guitar, butterflies, a cat, a mouse, and lots of other critters. Canyon's illustrations abound with light, color and lots of humorous detail.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2003
4 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
John Denver
220 books33 followersJohn Denver, born Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr., was an American folk singer-songwriter and folk rock musician who was one of the most popular artists of the 1970s. He recorded and released some 300 songs, about half of which he had composed, and was named Poet Laureate of Colorado in 1977.
Denver's songs were suffused with a deep and abiding love of the natural world. Songs such as "Take Me Home, Country Roads" (1971), "Leaving on a Jet Plane", "Calypso" (1975), "Thank God I'm a Country Boy", and "Rocky Mountain High" (1973) are popular worldwide. Denver has been referred to as "The Poet For the Planet", "Mother Nature's Son" (based on The Beatles song he covered) and "A Song's Best Friend".
Denver's songs were suffused with a deep and abiding love of the natural world. Songs such as "Take Me Home, Country Roads" (1971), "Leaving on a Jet Plane", "Calypso" (1975), "Thank God I'm a Country Boy", and "Rocky Mountain High" (1973) are popular worldwide. Denver has been referred to as "The Poet For the Planet", "Mother Nature's Son" (based on The Beatles song he covered) and "A Song's Best Friend".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
August 20, 2023
Gorgeous watercolor illustrations of yellow, green and brown bring John Denver's song "Sunshine on my Shoulders" to life. It is pure joy on paper.
Sunshine on My Shoulders is something you can listen along to with your child, and experience something truly magical.
Especially wonderful is the back detail of John Denver's inspirational life and contributions. He sounds like a remarkable man, and the world is better for having had him in it, even if only briefly.
Sunshine on My Shoulders is something you can listen along to with your child, and experience something truly magical.
Especially wonderful is the back detail of John Denver's inspirational life and contributions. He sounds like a remarkable man, and the world is better for having had him in it, even if only briefly.
September 11, 2019
This is such a beautiful, happy book. I'm just not sure how to explain what to say to a child about what it means for sunshine on your shoulders to make you "high."
December 31, 2022
Since I enjoyed listening to John Denver I was kind of intrigued by this book and chose to read it right at the library instead of checking it out. And it was okay for a book while I can see it working much better if the reader is not only young but also hasn't quite heard the song before, which is also a part of an issue with sharing this book.
First of all since the song is one of those songs known for its repetitiveness this was probably one of the worst choices of John Denver's music to be made into a book, especially a children's book. The book thus doesn't really have any flesh to it and is just probably one of those books really written for nostalgic purposes although the medium isn't right for the age of the listeners of many of Denver's music itself, especially since the add the singer into the book part of the way through.
And although the book is suppose to come with a CD with the song unfortunately this library copy was missing it and I really didn't feel like looking up this less than best song of Denver's. For others who are musically inclined, though, there is also sheet music included in the back along with some information about John Denver along with nods to his charitable works in the back.
In the end the only thing that is really quite decent of the book is the illustration of the book, which works as an interpretive telling of the lyrics. Detailed and brightly colored it gives you an idea of what Denver was trying to convey in his lyrics while still again not giving the reader much of anything to grasp on. And some of the things being done to that cat would be straight abusive if the feline were real.
In the end it was okay but not really a book that one would want to spend any money on unless you are a big John Denver fan and even then it it quite questionable to that end.
First of all since the song is one of those songs known for its repetitiveness this was probably one of the worst choices of John Denver's music to be made into a book, especially a children's book. The book thus doesn't really have any flesh to it and is just probably one of those books really written for nostalgic purposes although the medium isn't right for the age of the listeners of many of Denver's music itself, especially since the add the singer into the book part of the way through.
And although the book is suppose to come with a CD with the song unfortunately this library copy was missing it and I really didn't feel like looking up this less than best song of Denver's. For others who are musically inclined, though, there is also sheet music included in the back along with some information about John Denver along with nods to his charitable works in the back.
In the end the only thing that is really quite decent of the book is the illustration of the book, which works as an interpretive telling of the lyrics. Detailed and brightly colored it gives you an idea of what Denver was trying to convey in his lyrics while still again not giving the reader much of anything to grasp on. And some of the things being done to that cat would be straight abusive if the feline were real.
In the end it was okay but not really a book that one would want to spend any money on unless you are a big John Denver fan and even then it it quite questionable to that end.
March 10, 2017
No Awards
Appropriate grade levels: PreK-K
This story is about a young girl's love for sunshine! She describes how it makes her feel. The book also stresses the importance of sunshine for a person!
I thought this book was very sweet. It was just a happy book. The pictures are beautiful and really go along with the theme.
You could use this book as a transition because it isn't very long. You could also use this book when it becomes Spring to talk about the different aspects of spring (sun, birds, etc.)
Appropriate grade levels: PreK-K
This story is about a young girl's love for sunshine! She describes how it makes her feel. The book also stresses the importance of sunshine for a person!
I thought this book was very sweet. It was just a happy book. The pictures are beautiful and really go along with the theme.
You could use this book as a transition because it isn't very long. You could also use this book when it becomes Spring to talk about the different aspects of spring (sun, birds, etc.)
September 27, 2017
This book is awesome! I don't know why this wasn't done while John was alive.
The artwork is awesome, too! The only negative thing is that I wish that the kid & dad would have looked exactly like John & his son Zack because the artist drew the two main characters looking very much like them, but not exactly, which was really just confusing.
The artwork is awesome, too! The only negative thing is that I wish that the kid & dad would have looked exactly like John & his son Zack because the artist drew the two main characters looking very much like them, but not exactly, which was really just confusing.
July 5, 2021
The illustrations were pretty good, but considering it's a song that they made into a book, it's very repetitive because the book also repeats just like the chorus repeats in the song. It's interesting they have the origins of the songs and the music in the back of the books.
May 23, 2017
#Classic #Song illustrated for kids. #Tender #Inspirational #YoungReaders #PictureBook #BookReview #ChildrensBooks #amreading
May 18, 2018
The illustrator uses lots of yellow in this book, which makes absolutely great sense.
March 14, 2019
Classic song from John Denver with exuberantly drawn pictures full of joyous golden sunshine. ☀️
May 28, 2020
Wonderful song. Wonderful pictures. A favorite of my daughter's and mine.
July 5, 2020
Lovely
April 22, 2021
I really like this song, so I was delighted to find this book. The artwork is so bright and happy. It was very fitting for the lyrics of the song and I loved it.
November 14, 2021
Beautiful. Highly recommend sitting with this book and slowly 🐌turning each page as you listen 🎶to the CD (included). Lovely 😍
November 18, 2021
Nice pictures and a wonderful song at the back of the book.
January 13, 2023
Uplifting words & beautiful pictures. Fulfilled my 2023 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge for a book with a song lyric in its title.
November 5, 2025
Music Mavens storytime
March 9, 2017
I love John Denver, and I love this song, and didn't know that the book was about either until I picked it up. The illustrations are just beautiful. Warm, lovely, simple and human, which is a perfect match for the song. The book gets a bit repetitive, of course, because it's the entire song word for word accompanying the pictures--so as a read aloud it has that draw back. Paired with the Music CD I'm sure it's much better. The copy I had didn't include a CD, so the beautiful song that I know and love couldn't be part of the experience.
February 27, 2014
The only reason this book got any star rating from me was because the illustrations were beautiful. The song lyrics/text to the book was absurd and pointless, however.
The book does not explain what sunshine is or what it does for our Earth. The text talks about how sunshine makes you feel. Well, that's great that sunshine makes you happy, but students still wouldn't know what sunshine actually does for the Earth around them. There is no connection to how sunshine warms the earth, how it helps plants grow, provides us with light to do our work, or helps keep the ecosystem in balance. Students will not learn the purpose of the sun if all they hear is it "makes me happy" or "sunshine almost always makes me high."
I understand the book better when the song is played, but the song is slow and did not keep even my attention, how could a child be expected to pay attention? If you just read the book to your class, the text becomes pointless as students' do not actually learn anything, if their attention can even stay focused enough to finish the book.
The line that I quoted above "sunshine almost always makes me high" is what I consider inappropriate. I understand that the illustrator made a positive connotation with "high" but the song attached to the book automatically gives me images of someone blazing up on a hot day. Most children would not understand what "high" means unless they have had experience with the drug (through adult actions). But, if they have had the experience and they understand the term, why would we as teachers promote it? The slow-paced nature of the song also contributes to this idea that the character/song writer is high and is noticing all the feelings that he has in relation to the sunshine when he's high.
Another issue I have with the book is it doesn't end! I read it initially and got to the end where the last line was "Sunshine almost always..." It almost always what? Were you too high to remember the end of the song that you just put an ellipsis at the end?
Maybe the lyrics/text was intended to lull children to sleep, but if that was so, why are the images in the book so bright? The other disconnection between a male singer and a female illustrated character also bugged me. How can students relate the song to the character's experience in the book when the voices and images don't even match?
I look for content to increase student learning in the read-aloud books I will use with students and this book certainly had none.
The book does not explain what sunshine is or what it does for our Earth. The text talks about how sunshine makes you feel. Well, that's great that sunshine makes you happy, but students still wouldn't know what sunshine actually does for the Earth around them. There is no connection to how sunshine warms the earth, how it helps plants grow, provides us with light to do our work, or helps keep the ecosystem in balance. Students will not learn the purpose of the sun if all they hear is it "makes me happy" or "sunshine almost always makes me high."
I understand the book better when the song is played, but the song is slow and did not keep even my attention, how could a child be expected to pay attention? If you just read the book to your class, the text becomes pointless as students' do not actually learn anything, if their attention can even stay focused enough to finish the book.
The line that I quoted above "sunshine almost always makes me high" is what I consider inappropriate. I understand that the illustrator made a positive connotation with "high" but the song attached to the book automatically gives me images of someone blazing up on a hot day. Most children would not understand what "high" means unless they have had experience with the drug (through adult actions). But, if they have had the experience and they understand the term, why would we as teachers promote it? The slow-paced nature of the song also contributes to this idea that the character/song writer is high and is noticing all the feelings that he has in relation to the sunshine when he's high.
Another issue I have with the book is it doesn't end! I read it initially and got to the end where the last line was "Sunshine almost always..." It almost always what? Were you too high to remember the end of the song that you just put an ellipsis at the end?
Maybe the lyrics/text was intended to lull children to sleep, but if that was so, why are the images in the book so bright? The other disconnection between a male singer and a female illustrated character also bugged me. How can students relate the song to the character's experience in the book when the voices and images don't even match?
I look for content to increase student learning in the read-aloud books I will use with students and this book certainly had none.
July 1, 2020
I gave this five stars but then wanted to add a sixth when I realized the pictures were actually illustrations of John Denver and his daughter. Amazing book!
March 1, 2021
Turns out this was a chart-topping song!
I'm not sure it's aged well. "Country Roads" this is not.
Nor am I convinced it needed to be a Children's book.
The cat's cute, though.
I'm not sure it's aged well. "Country Roads" this is not.
Nor am I convinced it needed to be a Children's book.
The cat's cute, though.
February 14, 2017
This is another Christopher Canyon book based on a John Denver song. The recipe is no different from the others I own and have reviewed. However, this one is a special picture book for children. The mood and feeling the artwork conveys to the reader is perfect for the song, and makes this one stand apart for me. This can be used for more than just a fun picture book or movement exercise - the connection and feeling you receive from the lyrics and pictures are fantastic. Check Mr. Canyon's work out!
September 1, 2008
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! I am a long-time dedicated fan of John Denver and play his music all the time. I am a total John Denver geek and now that I have kids, this is a wonderful way to share my love of him and his music with them. Using the lyrics to "Sunshine On My Shoulders," this book is beautifully illustrated and cheerful. Complementing the earth-savvy Denver, the illustrations are filled with wild flowers, birds, bugs, kitties and a little girl with a sweet smile. LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!!!!
December 13, 2014
This book is just plain happy. The art work is unique and intrinsic and so different so that made me more than happy. But it is about sunshine and really what is happier than sunshine and the color yellow? Yellow was plashed all over the book and really the song it nice to listen to. I know people get a little uncomfortable when he says that the sun makes him "high" but really I just take that as it brings him "higher" it lifts his spirits, so I don't think it would be inappropriate for children.
October 31, 2014
Sunshine On My Shoulders is a book based off of a song by John Denver. Therefore this book could be poetry since it is in song form. A theme is how sunshine can just make everyone happy and brighten their day. I rated this book a three because there really is not much content to it, but the pictures are very fun and bright. I would recommend a music teacher to use this book for her class of young elementary children because they could all learn the song and sing it together.
September 10, 2009
This is just a beautiful book ... the drawings are fabulous. A brown girl with afro-halo hair enjoys the birds, and trees, flowers, and lake, and sunshine outdoors with her dad (uncle? big brother?). Comes with a CD. I love this song!
November 18, 2022
Makes me cry everytime!
March 6, 2008
great song, fun illustrations, and a cd of the song
November 29, 2008
My copy came with a CD of the song. Wonderful pictures!
July 8, 2009
Loved it. We all enjoyed the story, illustrations and song. Music cd was included.
September 27, 2010
Very nice with a cd included. Beautifully illustrated. I had to listen to a little John Denver after this one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews