Out Came the Sun: A Day in Nursery Rhymes
Illustrated by: Heather Collins
Recommended for babies
Kids Can Press $24.95

Heather Collins has been illustrating children’s books for over 30 years so when she was asked to illustrate an anthology of nursery rhymes, she jumped at the opportunity. She was able to hand-pick the rhymes to be included and so based her decisions on her personal favourites from her childhood and those enjoyed by her children. She created a cast of lovable characters that accompany each rhyme. The book begins with Elsie Marley waking to the sound of the cock robin’s song and proceeds through familiar events of a child’s morning (eating porridge in “Pease Porridge Hot…” to baking a cake in “Pat-a-cake…” ). When it is time to go out and play, the characters sing “Rain, Rain Go Away” and after singing the “Eensy Weensy Spider”, the sun finally comes out. They head to town to buy a fat hog and of course, they need three bags of wool from the black sheep. Before we know it, it is time for bed and the soothing sounds of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and “The Man in the Moon”.

There are 45 much-adored selections in this hard-cover keepsake. Children will be enamoured by the charming stuffed toys as the illustrator’s sense of humour comes through loud and clear on each page. They will no doubt giggle at the sight of the baby bunny falling out of the cradle as the bough breaks and then be comforted when all of the animals are tucked away safely in their beds.