In this gentle, morning-time storybook, Jóhonaa’éí (the sun) passes along his way, releasing the scent of sagebrush, and waking mice, rabbits and sheep to the new day. Unable to wake Coyote (although he tries), Jóhonaa’éí soon reaches the hogan of his children, who eventually come out to offer corn to the morning spirits and to Nahasdzáán (Mother Earth), giving thanks to the "bringer of the dawn."

As Veronica Tsinajinnie notes in her brief after-word, it is the traditional Navajo custom to "offer morning prayers to the Holy People," and this bilingual picture-book, with text presented in both Navajo and English, serves as an excellent introduction to that custom. I found it quite interesting that Jóhonaa’éí reads like an inversion of the classic bedtime book, Goodnight Moon, and applaud the way in which Tsinajinnie has adapted the standard "repetition-formula" picture book to her own specific cultural needs. ( )