Dawn - by Marc Martin (Hardcover)

About the Book

"As the sun slowly rises, many things happen in a small window of time. The world comes alive with the actions of animals, plants, clouds, and sky. A deer drinks, an owl wakes, a dandelion shimmers in the light. A ladybug climbs, a fish jumps, birds call in a chorus. Geese fly away in formation. A flower blooms. ... Illustrated with glowing imagery and written with a ... simplicity holding appeal for new readers, Marc Martin's ode to the slow-blooming beauty of a sunrise and the life that unfolds in its radiance narrows the lens to show the wonder of time passing"--

Book Synopsis

"The book is a testament to Martin's immense artistic talents. Truly stunning." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

With gorgeous artwork and a spare text, an award-winning picture-book creator gently celebrates the natural world through the lens of a sunrise.

As the sun slowly rises, many things happen in a small window of time. The world comes alive with the actions of animals, plants, clouds, and sky. A deer drinks, an owl wakes, a dandelion shimmers in the light. A ladybug climbs, a fish jumps, birds call in a chorus. Geese fly away in formation. A flower blooms. Beautifully illustrated with glowing imagery and written with a charming simplicity holding appeal for new readers, Marc Martin's ode to the slow-blooming beauty of a sunrise and the life that unfolds in its radiance narrows the lens to show the wonder of time passing.

Review Quotes

Martin (A Stone Is a Story) employs delicate, luminous watercolor, pencil, and digital panels, captioning them with simple words, to limn quiet moments of drama in the natural world. . . .A contemplative work that captures the power of close observation, showing how individual panels and single, well-chosen words can sum up a place's feeling.
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

The book is a testament to Martin's immense artistic talents. Truly stunning.
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

With a spare, lyrical text and luminous illustrations, Martin immerses readers in the meditative moments of dawn. . . . The book's thoughtful visual pacing echoes its rhythmic text. . . . A perfect morning counterpart to bedtime books.
--The Horn Book (starred review)

Enchanting, digitally enhanced watercolors recreate the diffused light of an early morning on a lake and depict the quiet busyness of flora and fauna at this time of day. . . . The deceptive simplicity allows children to fill in the gaps by coming up with their own story.
--Booklist

Would be an excellent read-aloud for a study of wetlands or ecosystems in general. . . . This gorgeously illustrated book is an excellent first purchase, especially for libraries in need of books about animals and ecosystems, building vocabulary, or the enjoyment of a brand new day.
--School Library Journal

This gorgeous book, filled with luminous watercolor paintings, captures the glorious time when night ends and the world lights up again. . . . The effect is eye-opening, inviting readers to imagine their own adventures at sunrise as the scenery changes as quickly as a dandelion losing its fluff.
--The Virginian-Pilot

About the Author

Marc Martin is an award-winning artist, illustrator, and author. He is the creator of many children's books, including Masters of Disguise: Camouflaging Creatures and Magnificent Mimics; A Forest; and Everything and Everywhere. His books A River and We Are Starlings were both named best illustrated children's books of the year by the New York Times. He lives in Melbourne, Australia.