Book Review: I Am the Sun

I Am the Sun, written by Janessa Parker and illustrated by Beverly Blacksheep, is a heartfelt look into Diné/Navajo culture

The illustrations are deeply saturated and colorful and look like they were drawn with markers. They are a vital part of the story because they show the daily activities of the people as described in the story and also their connection with nature.

As the narrator goes through the day, they see craftspeople doing their work, women cooking fry bread and weaving. They ride their horse and do a traditional dance that reminds them of what’s truly important:

I dance for healing.
I dance for remembrance.
I dance for freedom.
I dance for the future.
I dance for the Diné!

The story speaks to the importance of the natural world and how things like sheep and turquoise are gifts to the people who use them with respect. It calls on readers to learn about Native cultures and pass along stories and traditions.

The author was inspired to learn more about Diné culture after her father died and she had children and wanted to make sure that they knew the traditions and stories of their people.

The book includes Diné vocabulary and there’s a glossary and pronunciation guide at the front to help readers with those words that might be unfamiliar.

This book would be a nice addition to a classroom bookshelf or to your at-home collection of books about different cultures. Whether you are Diné or Native or not, reading the stories of Indigenous people (and others) helps us understand what is important to other people and what their lives are like.

Kids should also enjoy the art style and the bright colors and might be inspired to try drawing their own stories in a similar way.

About the book: 32 pages, hardcover paper over boards. Published 2025 by Bushel & Peck Books. Suggested retail price $18.99.

Johnny Appleseed Day is sometimes celebrated on Sept. 26 because that is John Chapman’s birthday, but even if you’re just doing an apple unit study for fall it’s a great time to talk about Johnny Appleseed.

And that’s the place to start, that Johnny Appleseed was a real person named John Chapman who was born in 1774 in what was then the province of Massachusetts Bay. He traveled west when he turned 18 and despite the image of him randomly tossing apple seeds everywhere, he was really a deliberate planter of apple tree nurseries, which he left in the care of others and checked on every year or two.

Learn a little more of his story with these cute coloring pages (though not entirely historically accurate, they’re still cute) from Homeschool of 1. They also have a Johnny Appleseed themed word search printable.

This pin of a Scholastic News page doesn’t link to a website, but it gives you some basic information and a true and false quiz you can use with kids.

Crystal & Co. has a cute apple themed counting mini book you can print and use with your Johnny Appleseed unit. They also have some coloring pages with a bit of handwriting practice. Or practice cutting with the Johnny Appleseed themed worksheets from 3 Boys and a Dog.

Make a Johnny Appleseed puppet to help tell the story with this craft with a free printable template from Simple Everyday Mom. You’ll also find some cute printable worksheets there to learn his story and put it in the correct order.

Color, cut out and assemble this Johnny Appleseed drawing from Homeschool Preschool. They also have an apple seed counting activity you can use for practicing one to one correspondence.

Tiaras and Tantrums has a free printable apple unit that includes Johnny Appleseed facts and coloring pages, as well as how to say apple in different languages, tracing apple vocabulary, art project ideas, science experiments and more.

And if you need more apple themed activities to go with your Johnny Appleseed celebrations, check out my posts on apple crafts and apple learning activities.

Have you read?

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