Title: I Can Hear the Sun: A Modern Myth
Author/ Illustrator: Patricia Polacco
Publisher: Philomel Books
ISBN: 0-399-22520-X
Summary: Stephanie Michele, animal caretaker at Lake Merritt, befriends Frondo, an orphan boy from the settlement house in town. In Frondo, Stephanie Michele finds a kindred spirit; they both have a way with animals and they both listen to the sun for wisdom. Together with a few of the “regulars” at the park, they form a strong friendship. But, when the people from the settlement house propose to send Frondo away, the friends are faced with a harsh reality.
Butterfly’s notes: The characters in this book are all unwanted by society, but they form friendships based on their mutual outcast status. Patricia Polacco refers to I Can Hear the Sun as a “modern myth”, and it is just that. It is a story with strong characters, true friendships, and a mystical but bittersweet ending. Since the author often bases her stories on her own experiences or those of her family, this book is particularly intriguing. What real-life thing could have happened to her that would prompt a fantasy like this one?
Categories: ages 7-9, ages 10-12, animal stories, fantasy, mythology and legends, picture books, re-thinking fairy tales, profound messages
