We Carry the Sun
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Newbery Medalist Tae Keller’s debut picture book is a resplendent account of humankind’s relationship with our most precious resource: the sun.
From the first human settlements to today’s modern metropolises, we have always relied on the sun for light, energy, and sustenance. We Carry the Sun traces the history of solar power from ancient south-facing villages to the Industrial Age and modern innovators; and from solar-powered steam engines to silicon solar panels.
Lyrical and informed, Newbery Medal winner Tae Keller’s debut picture book is also a timely call to action that asks young readers to imagine a brighter, cleaner future. Illuminated by Rachel Wada’s radiant, eye-catching illustrations, We Carry the Sun is a tribute to pioneering thinkers, a celebration of humankind’s relationships with the natural world, and a shimmering ode to the resource that sustains us.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this story of "how we reached into the sky/ and carried the sun home," Newbery Medalist Keller highlights the chain of insights that have led to accessible solar energy technology. Initial lines trace humans using the sun's energy for warmth until "we begin to believe/ the sun is not enough," and communities turn to coal, "poisoning our planet." Following pages highlight innovators harnessing the sun's energy across time—a teacher using a solar mirror to power a steam engine, a parent warming her baby's bath in the sun, and more, each person advancing the science one step further. Short, telegraphic lines capture with force the powers keeping renewable energy from supplanting fossil fuels: "Oil companies prey/ on human weakness/ and pay politicians." Boldly outlined full-bleed portraits of inventors and technology by Wada (I Am Wind) represent brilliant sunlight, incorporating golden rays, halos, and sunspots. More than a resource about the history of solar energy, it's also a look at stepwise progress made by standing on the shoulders of those who have come before. Characters are represented with various skin tones. An author's note and solar energy timeline conclude. Ages 7–10. Author's agent: Faye Bender, Book Group. Illustrator's agent: Amy Tompkins, Transatlantic Agency.
