When Sun Rises

Derived from Mexican Indigenous wisdom, this is the third title in a series of poetic board books centering around establishing an authentic, heartfelt connection with nature.

Using Mexican concepts, this poignantly lyrical series invites young children to pay witness to nature and the ways in which the outside world interacts with our own human rhythms. The Sun guides all life on Earth. We move to its cycles through the seasons—listening to the awakening of nature in spring, celebrating the shining warmth in summer, honoring our loved ones in autumn, and dreaming of better days ahead in winter. Its steadfastness touches and gives life to every being, showcasing the power of universal interconnectedness. Award-winning author Aida Salazar lovingly turns her attention to the youngest readers with her signature lyrical text—in English with a few Spanish words interwoven, perfectly paired with vibrant, mystical art crafted by Caribay M. Benavides.  This book is a truly meaningful and formative experience for all young readers.

Aida Salazar is an award-winning author and arts activist whose writings for adults and children explore issues of identity and social justice. She is the author of the critically acclaimed middle-grade verse novels The Moon Within and Land of the Cranes. Her books also include the picture book anthology In the Spirit of a Dream: 13 Stories of Immigrants of Color, the Caldecott-winning picture book biography Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter, the middle-grade novel A Seed in the Sun, and the middle-grade anthology My New Gift: 16 Period Stories from BIPOC Authors. Aida is a founding member of Las Musas—a Latinx kidlit debut author collective. Her story "By the Light of the Moon" was adapted into a ballet production by the Sonoma Conservatory of Dance and is the first Xicana-themed ballet in history. She lives with her family of artists in a teal house in Oakland, California.

Caribay Marquina Benavides is an artist from Mérida, Venezuela, and is currently based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is a graphic designer and illustrator whose art is influenced by a nostalgia for the nature of her homeland. Caribay’s work spans from commercial to editorial illustration, designing for clients all around the world.