Catching the Sun - Hardcover

Coleen Paratore has written both pictures books, such as HOW PRUDENCE PROOVIT PROVED THE TRUTH ABOUT FAIRY TALES (Simon & Schuster), and middle-grade novels, including THE CUPID CHRONICLES (Simon & Schuster). Coleen recieved her Bachelor's degree in English from The College of Saint Rose and her Master's degree in English at Trinity College. She lives in Albany, New York, and summers on Cape Cod, Massachussets, with her husband and three sons.

PreSchool-Grade 2—On Dylan's fifth birthday, he and his mother celebrate an annual ritual on Cape Cod. Yawning, they steal out to the beach while a few stars are still twinkling and wait at the shore for a swift, precious peek at sunrise—"A flash. A wink. A baby sun." This is a quiet story, peacefully illustrated with Catalanotto's watercolors (always tranquil, sometimes surprising in perspective and beauty). Paratore's language is likewise soft and startling: "Dad is still honk-snoring away. Huck's in dog dreamland." But the shadow muting this year's sunrise is The Baby. "Now I'm big, and soon Mom will have a new baby....it won't ever be the same." Dylan's thoughts, and his mother's sensitive responses, are portrayed gently without minimizing their power. The chiaroscuro of Dylan's emotions is echoed in the muted violet and gold of early morning at the shore.—Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY
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