A Trip Around the Sun

November 19, 2021

Gr 1-4-"Change is hard." So observes Comet after watching a caterpillar turn into a moth. Haylee, a young white girl, and her pal, an anthropomorphic comet, discuss the nature of change across the book's three stories. In the other stories, they come across a litter of stray kittens and compare the life cycles of different plants and animals. Haylee and Comet's friendship serves as a welcome vehicle for exploring different forms of internal and external change and growth. Studying change in nature does not eliminate Comet's worries and uncertainty over their own future. Nonetheless, the friends' conversations, play, and discoveries lead them to gratitude for each other's presence. They make peace with how the facts of life can only determine so much about a person-personality traits and individual choices play a role, too. Marcero's deeply saturated, loose-lined, rich artwork is as gentle and calm as an afternoon enjoying snow cones. VERDICT This thoughtful, relatable duo will give young readers lots to ponder, both about themselves and the minor miracles happening all around them.-Thomas Maluck, Richland Lib., SC

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2021
Change is in the air for Haylee and Comet. Three heartwarming tales highlight how change can be "hard," "messy," or even "FAST." After mistaking a caterpillar for a tiny comet, Comet (an actual comet) learns about metamorphosis in "The Cocoon." The discussion broadens to change in general, prompting Comet to ask human pal Haylee whether both of them will change as well. They continue to observe the caterpillar (� la "slow TV") until she eventually morphs into a luna moth. In "Snow Cone," a heat wave prompts the pair to seek out the icy treats to cool off. Along the way, they meet a litter of kittens. One of these kittens follows them to the snow cone cart. In "Growing Up," Haylee outgrows a pair of roller skates, and Comet wonders if they're growing, too. They both go to the measuring wall to take stock. Haylee has grown 2 inches. Comet is disappointed to still be the same--at least on the outside. Identical in tone to predecessor Haylee and Comet (2021), this sequel effectively melds Frog and Toad-esque truisms about friendship with brilliant full-color art. Each story ends with a coda that offers an element of nonfiction or gives the duo a chance to reflect. The fairly predictable block-panel format has at most six panels per page. Haylee has pale skin; a secondary human character has brown skin. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A bright sequel. (Graphic early reader. 6-9)

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