DESCRIPTION

The cyclical nature of day and night frames a heartfelt exploration of the shared experiences that bring us all together.

At the start of a day brimming with possibilities, a gentle narrator whimsically explores everything the day might bring, from work to play, and all the sweet moments in between, like watching clouds and seeing something grow. In the moment when day inevitably turns to night, we are reminded that "we are all just hearts beating in the darkness." This quiet space serves as a reminder of our shared existence, the very core of what brings us together. As a new dawn continues the cycle, that truth is a strong and steady pulse beneath the rhythm of another busy morning.

In a story that is at once playful and poignant, and Julie Fogliano masterfully combines simple, lyrical text and nuanced themes to create an inspirational exploration of perseverance, solidarity, kindness, and strength. Luscious illustrations by Cátia Chien accompany the soulful text. Cleverly emulating the cyclical nature of day and night, it emphasizes an even deeper message: through all of life's ups and downs, there will always be light after darkness, and most importantly, we have each other--these other beating hearts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR

Julie Fogliano is the New York Times bestselling author of And Then It's Spring, If I Was the Sunshine, Just in Case You Want to Fly, and most recently, My Best Friend. Recipient of the Ezra Jack Keats award, her books have been translated into more than ten languages and received multiple starred reviews. Booklist perhaps put it best when they said that Julie "has a knack for capturing the emotional tenor of very specific little kid experiences," and she has continued to do so here. Now more than ever kids (and all of us) need the soft and hopeful encouragement of her words.

Cátia Chien is an award-winning children's book illustrator from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Her first book, The Sea Serpent and Me by Dashka Slater, won a gold medal from the Society of Illustrators. She followed it with A Boy and a Jaguar by Alan Rabinowitz, an ALA Notable Bok and recipient of the Schneider Family Book Award. Her book, The Bear and the Moon by Matthew Burgess, received multiple starred reviews and won a gold medal from the Society of Illustrators' Original Art Show, as well as the Golden Kite Award. She lives in New York City.

REVIEWS

★ "This compelling picture book packs an emotional punch and will help little ones foster positive attitudes about themselves and others."--Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

★ "[A] contemplative picture book. . . . lulling voice and shining, jewel-toned spreads have the power to enchant."--Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"The poetry here has a natural, gentle rhythm, created by purposeful line breaks and page turns. . . . Emotive pastel and colored pencil illustrations not only carefully match the time of day and activity, but also the sentiments expressed on each page. . . . Thoughtful poetry and expressive illustrations could make for a meaningful conversation."—School Library Journal

"Fogliano's prose is at once straightforward and poetic. . . . Chien's impressionis-tic pastel and colored-pencil illustrations have a soothing fluidity, but their vibrant colors and textures add a bracing note of contrast. . . . This book gives kids something to ponder"--The Horn Book