Greetings, Sun - Hardcover

Phillis and David Gershator drew their inspiration for Greetings, Sun from African praise songs. They collaborated on two previous picture books--Palampam Day and Bread Is for Eating, a "Reading Rainbow" featured selection. They live on St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, where the sun shines every day.

Synthia Saint James first illustrated one of Phillis Gershator's stories, Tukama Tootles the Flute, a Bulletin Blue Ribbon book. A self-taught artist and author, Synthia Saint James was born in Los Angeles, where she currently resides. It was in New York City, however, where she sold her first commissioned paintings and where her professional career as an artist began. Today she is an internationally recognized fine artist.

Ms. Saint James recently illustrated Greetings, Sun, published by DK Ink in 1998. Her "eye-catching illustrations" were commended in a School Library Journal starred review for being "filled with motion and energy." Kirkus Reviews also praised "her distinctive paintings," remarking that "action, emotion, and story are conveyed through thoughtful compositions and a grand use of vivid color."

This talented artist has eight children's picture books to her name, two of which she also wrote--The Gifts of Kwanzaa and Sunday, which was a Parents' Choice Silver Honor Book. She received a 1997 Coretta Scott King Honor for her illustrations in Neeny Coming... Neeny Going. She also has two books of poetry and prose--Girlfriends and Can I Touch You: Love Poems and Affirmations, an audio book read by Ms. Saint James and renowned vocalist Melba Moore. She even has a cookbook on the market, Creative Fixings from the Kitchen.

Synthia Saint James's accomplishments are impressive, and the list is ever-growing. Her children's book No Mirrors in My Nana's House was recently published, another is due in the spring of 1999, and she is already working on yet another children's book.

Since 1990, Ms. Saint James has completed over 20 commissions for major organizations, corporations, and individual collectors, among them the House of Seagram, Brigitte Matteuzzi's School of Modern Jazz Ballet, the Mark Taper Forum, the Los Angeles Women's Foundation, Kayser-Roth/Maybelline, Essence Magazine's 25th Anniversary, the American Library Association, UNICEF, Dance Africa, the Girl Scouts of the USA's 85th Anniversary, and Attorney Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. She was also commissioned by the United States Postal Service to create the first U.S. Kwanzaa stamp, which was released in October 1997.

Recent exhibits displaying her work include the Natural History Museum and the Museum of African American Art, both in Los Angeles. Collectively, they exhibited 75 of her original paintings.

PreSchool-Grade 1ATwo children who live on a tropical island greet the objects and routines they encounter during the course of a typical day. With gentle humor, the verses, inspired by African praise songs, celebrate the commonplace world, from the morning sun to breakfast ("Greetings, toast./Greetings, jelly./Greetings, butter./Greetings, belly") to school, and back home for the family's evening routine. The simple, graphic images, painted in bright, contrasting colors, are filled with motion and energy. Saint James's faceless characters are so vivid that readers almost see their features. Scenes of the beach, classroom, and home provide a flash of local color and are perfectly suited to the text in both mood and complexity. Though this versatile book would make a lovely bedtime story, it would also be effective as a group read-aloud. Eye-catching illustrations and a cleverly repetitious text will appeal to preschool children and invite kindergartners to chime in on a second reading. Beginning readers will also enjoy the story. Gentle as an ocean breeze, this understated book will find a wide audience.ATana Elias, Meadowridge Branch Library, Madison, WI
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.