Book Descriptions
for Southwest Sunrise by Nikki Grimes and Wendell Minor
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Jayden has just moved from New York City to New Mexico, and he's not happy about it. "Why are we here? What's so great about New Mexico?" The first morning in his new home, Jayden wakes up with fresh eyes, pockets a field guide his mom gives him, and decides he might as well explore the outdoors. To his surprise, New Mexico is filled with delightful discoveries: colorful flowers, chattering birds "passing secrets" in piñon trees, smooth houses of adobe, "bleached bones like seashells" in "a river of sand." Jayden marvels at the endless expanse of blue sky, a view he didn't have in New York City. He misses the incredible height of skyscrapers, but soon he spots "stone towers" in the distance, "red rock pillars" as tall as the buildings back home. Feeling cheered, Jayden picks a handful of flowers for his mom before heading back to their new house. Poetic text bursting with sensory detail tells a story of a curious, open-minded Black boy, and gouache illustrations vary among close-ups of Jayden's discoveries and arresting depictions of the warm Southwest landscape. (Ages 4-8)
CCBC Choices 2021. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2021. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
From Children's Literature Legacy Award winner Nikki Grimes and highly-acclaimed illustrator Wendell Minor comes a stunning picture book about the beauty of the natural world and finding a new place to call home.
The beauty of the natural world is just waiting to be discovered . . .
When Jayden touches down in New Mexico, he's uncertain how this place could ever be home. But if he takes a walk outside, he just might find something glorious.
Flowers in bright shades . . .
Birds and lizards and turtles, all with a story to tell . . .
Red rock pillars towering in the distance . . .
Turquoise sky as far as the eye can see . . .
Perhaps this place could be home after all.
Gorgeously poetic and visually stunning, this story from acclaimed creators Nikki Grimes and Wendell Minor celebrates the beauty of the Southwest as a young boy sees it for the very first time.
Acclaim for One Last Word
A Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Winner
A New York Times Editor's Choice
The beauty of the natural world is just waiting to be discovered . . .
When Jayden touches down in New Mexico, he's uncertain how this place could ever be home. But if he takes a walk outside, he just might find something glorious.
Flowers in bright shades . . .
Birds and lizards and turtles, all with a story to tell . . .
Red rock pillars towering in the distance . . .
Turquoise sky as far as the eye can see . . .
Perhaps this place could be home after all.
Gorgeously poetic and visually stunning, this story from acclaimed creators Nikki Grimes and Wendell Minor celebrates the beauty of the Southwest as a young boy sees it for the very first time.
Acclaim for One Last Word
A Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Winner
A New York Times Editor's Choice
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.
