Kids love spending time outdoors. During the warmer seasons, they'll spend hours running, jumping, riding bikes, swimming, playing games or sports, building sandcastles, etc. For kids and adults, there's nothing better than feeling the warm sun on your face. Hazel also cherished the moments when the sun was high in the sky. She loved "how the sun watched and warmed her as she picked flowers and chased butterflies." She would steal a glance at it every chance she could get. To this darling little girl, the sun was the best thing in the world. She claimed to love it more than anything else!
Hazel's profound fondness for the sun made her make an unwise choice. She devised a sneaky plan to capture and hide the sun in a ginormous fishbowl in her room. You'd think this was impossible? In reality, it's impossible, but that's what is so superb in the world of fiction: nothing is ever impossible.
Hazel did capture the sun, but she quickly learned her selfish actions had dire consequences. They affected everyone around her in a negative way. While Hazel was happy, others around her were feeling gloomy, like the darkened sky. Seeing others' reactions to the missing sun led Hazel to to realize what she did was wrong. The sun didn't belong to her; everyone loved and needed it, too.
This charming children's book teaches readers to think before they act. While the sun is not a toy, it does (in a roundabout way) teach kids the importance of sharing. Hazel wanted the sun for herself, but she learned selfish acts can hurt others. The lovely story also reminds us how beautiful our world is. I adored the illustrations, and I think your family will, too. Hazel was adorable with her rosy cheeks. And I doubt anyone can resist smiling back at the sun!
I highly recommend sharing this book with children 3 years and older.