One Sun

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

If one picture is worth a thousand words, can two words make a poem? Yes, according to McMillan, whose new offering teams photographs of youngsters cavorting at the seashore with what he calls ``terse verse''--two rhyming monosyllabic words, such as ``wet pet,'' ``whale pail'' and ``sand hand.'' Designed to introduce children to the concept of rhyme, the book's appealingly simple design belies McMillan's customary careful attention to detail--including a balanced racial mix of young models. Although the concept would seem a bit thin for an entire picture book, the skilled writer/photographer pulls it off with elan: neat feat. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)

School Library Journal

PreS - Gr 3 --McMillan offers a rhyming game set against the background of a sparkling summer day at the beach as an Asian preschooler is featured interacting with boys and girls of different races. He explains his terse verse--two monosyllabic words that sound alike but are not necessarily spelled alike--in a note on the last page, offering it as an introduction to rhyme. Only a few of his combinations lack similar spelling patterns (``one/sun''); others include ``tan/man,'' ``sand/hand,'' and ``snail/trail.'' Contrived poetics aside, the book is attractively designed with the words in extra large white type on the verso, outlined with a strong black line against a sandy gray background. The right-hand pages are vivid, clear, full-color photos dominated by rich blues and sparkling sunlight. There is a strong textural element; readers can practically feel the sand in their shoes. Teachers may enjoy trying out the rhyming game concepts with their students, while everyone else will simply enjoy the pleasure of a perfect sunny day at the seaside. --Judith Gloyer, Milwaukee Public Library