Sunshine & Storm [Hardcover]

Elisabeth Jones (Author), James Coplestone (Illustrator), Elizabeth Jones (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

In bright splashes and splotches of imaginative, exuberant watercolors and a few well-chosen words, a cat and a dog discover how to overlook the irritations that sometimes arise between the best of friends. Sunshine, a tiny bright orange cat, and a Storm, a floppy dark gray dog, have a friendship not usually enjoyed between cats and dogs. But one day Storm inadvertently angers Sunshine, and suddenly they are no longer friends. The weather cooperates in healing their rift and Sunshine and Storm realizes that like sunny days and dark ones, their moods might change but they are friends forever. Juanty Storm and the elegant Sunshine, loveable and funny, celebrate the ups and downs of friendship with simplicity and directness that young children will recognize and take to their hearts.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This tale from a British team features a pair of watercolor confections, the eponymous orange cat and gray dog (respectively). The two are best friends: "Storm usually followed Sunshine like a shadow on a bright day. Sometimes Sunshine followed Storm, like the light behind a cloud." Then one day, Storm's canine exuberance gets the better of him, and he shakes his rain-sodden coat dry in Sunshine's face. "Her fur stood on end and she hissed a horrible H-h-h-h-i-i-i-s-s-s-s at Storm." The rift caused by Storm's thoughtlessness is mended, but not without some heavy-handed prose ("The brightness and the warmth did not melt Sunshine's anger or heal Storm's hurt"). Coplestone's pictures, however, retain their aqueous magic from start to finish. His Sunshine is a collection of shimmering stripes with some witty whiskers that lend her the air of a boulevardier. And the gray and black splotches that constitute the gangly Storm seem to have a life of their own, roiling like a cloud ready to erupt. The closing image of the forgiving friends in rainbow colors reinforces the trumpeted but worthy message: that friendship can weather many changes. Ages 3-6.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

reS-Gr 2-Two best friends have a falling out when Storm, a dog, rudely and unthinkingly shakes himself dry and sprays water all over Sunshine, a cat. Storm is heartbroken and realizes the error of his ways. Sunshine is contrite but wary; but when her pal apologetically licks her, she forgives him and returns the affection. Both learn the value of true friendship. The outstanding artwork reinforces the emotions expressed in the text. Placed on stark, white spreads, the bright orange cat and black dog look like Rorschach test pictures. There is little else on the pages except a green line for the grass, blue swirls for water, and the bright sun and a cloud. When Storm shakes, he has four tongues and extra appendages. When Sunshine gets angry, she literally flies apart. The large bold lettering is well suited to the action. The story and pictures are perfect for group or individual sharing.

Marlene Gawron, Orange County Library, Orlando, FL

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Ragged Bear (April 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1929927274
• ISBN-13: 978-1929927272
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 9.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,474,454 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.