l to r: Roxane Turcotte and Lucie Crovatto

When we have 1,001 tasks to do every day, it’s easy to fall into the trap of racing through it all. Sometimes we don’t even notice how fast we’ve been moving until bedtime, when there’s no time left to do anything fulfilling. The Sun Never Hurries, by author Roxane Turcotte and illustrator Lucie Crovatto, is a gentle tale that offers children an alternative to the daily grind.

The story begins when Charlie notices that her grandfather, Papa Jo, has an hourglass. When Charlie asks what it’s for, Papa Jo responds with, “The hourglass reminds me to take my time to get things done. Just like each grain of sand, every moment of your day is precious.”

Charlie doesn’t quite understand, so Papa Jo shows her how to take it slow. Together, they savour soup, gather flowers, and enjoy ice cream. Toward the end of the day, they sit on the wooden swing that Papa Jo made, quietly watching leaves flutter to the ground, before heading home. When they arrive, Charlie sees the hourglass again – and reflects on her day with new understanding.

Illustration: Lucie Crovatto

Turcotte’s writing is lovely and her words are carefully chosen. The text alone gently guides readers to experience the day vicariously through Charlie’s eyes. One of the most striking passages comes when Charlie and Papa Jo decide to row to a nearby island and “Charlie admires the gold glitter that dances on the water.” Another comes when they’re enjoying ice cream, and Charlie exclaims that it “tastes like happiness!” Papa Jo replies that it’s “Marie’s secret ingredient of hand-picked strawberries sprinkled with patience.”

Crovatto captures the mood of the story beautifully, with a cozy palette of oranges and yellows (and occasional blues and greens). The softness of the illustrations and the warm tones add to the calm of the story, and the images of Charlie and Papa Jo highlight a close, caring relationship.

This book is ideal for snuggling under covers at the end of a long day with a parent, a grandparent, or a teddy bear.