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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!
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!
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2017
About the author
Sam Usher
57 books40 followersSam 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
May 11, 2024
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
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
October 16, 2018
Sweet story of a boy and his grandfather and the incredible journey they imagine while taking a walk in the sun...
June 3, 2017
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/
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/
December 3, 2019
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.
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.
July 21, 2023
citită și răscitită alături de fetița mea! 💛
https://ciobanuldeazi.home.blog/2023/...
https://ciobanuldeazi.home.blog/2023/...
December 11, 2021
Sevgili güneş ☀️ hâlâ seviyorum seni ve hep de seveceğim:)
June 26, 2018
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).
October 4, 2019
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.
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.
September 13, 2019
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.
October 3, 2019
A delightful story of adventure, with some great illustrations
August 11, 2020
This book is beautiful and repetitive!
December 30, 2021
"If you keep looking, you never know what you might find."
July 25, 2024
Love the illustrations & the adventure the grandad & boy have 💙
August 24, 2018
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.
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.
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August 28, 2019A 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.
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.
January 14, 2019
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...
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...
June 19, 2022
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.
November 10, 2018
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!
(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!
April 24, 2019
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.
May 29, 2022
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!
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!
April 24, 2024
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!
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!
July 25, 2020
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.
January 25, 2023
"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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2024
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.
If you need stories that honor spending time with grandparents, get Sam Usher's series in your collection.
July 14, 2018
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.
October 24, 2018
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
~April
September 7, 2022
Sam Usher understands and respects the child's view of the world. The text itself leaves a bit to be desired, but follows a tradtitional pattern. Using confident lines in spirited illustrations, he guides the reader through the veil between reality and imagination with uncommon grace. This was the first of his books I've read, but it peaks curiousity about the others.
January 10, 2023
This book is one of a series about a little boy and his granddad. I love that each book starts with a similar illustration to the previous book: the boy is in his room on his bed by a window. He is always wearing red striped socks and has a stuffed monkey on his bed. In every book, he and his granddad have some sort of fantastical adventure before they end up back home again.
June 25, 2023
How can I not love that the “necessary provisions” for the picnic are a camera, a compass, a spyglass, a flashlight, sunglasses with the cord attached so they won’t fly off…
Plus food along with notebooks and pencils.
Oh, I like these Sam books!
I can’t help but notice how rich this kid is in books and in gear. And a granddad to help him navigate to the good places.
What a team!
Plus food along with notebooks and pencils.
Oh, I like these Sam books!
I can’t help but notice how rich this kid is in books and in gear. And a granddad to help him navigate to the good places.
What a team!
May 28, 2018
The day is "hotter than broccoli soup" so the boy and his granddad decide to go on a picnic. The third in Usher's seasons books, this one is an imaginative and visual delight - just like the others!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews