BLUE SKY MORNING

Come along with Eunny as she navigates her morning routine.

Delicate watercolor and colored pencil illustrations depict a view of an initially quiet Korean town, while clever second-person text directly addresses readers and the protagonist: “Wake up, Eunny! It’s a beautiful, blue sky morning.” With a gentleness that matches her soft yet precise artwork, Kim invites readers to participate in Eunny’s activities (“Can you hear the town waking up too?” “Have you noticed the flowers?”). Eunny eats a breakfast prepared by her grandmother, Mama drinks coffee, and then she and Eunny set out. “It’s bright when you step outside, and the air feels cool and fresh. Take a deep breath.” Kim’s portrayal of the now-busy streets makes for immersive reading; every illustration in this South Korean import is filled with detail, from the children’s expressions to the individual leaves on the trees. Mama and Eunny aren’t in a rush, and the unseen narrator urges the child to “stop for a moment, and look up.” A marvelous page turn transitions from an overhead image of Eunny with her head craned back to a stunning view of the blue sky seen from below. As Eunny and her mother enjoy their walk to Mama’s bus stop and Eunny meets her friend Sohee, readers get to experience the fun of saying goodbye and hello, observing the changing colors of the foliage, and anticipating a new school day.

The feeling of a lovely morning, captured perfectly.