Why the Sun Was Late

by Benjamin Elkin, Jerome Snyder (Illustrator)

Rendition of an African folktale about a proud little fly who starts a chain of events that affects all the animals of the jungle.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

Benjamin Elkin was educated at Lewis Institute, Chicago Teachers College, and Northwestern University. His published works include The Loudest Noise in the World (Viking, 1954), Gillespie and the Guards (Viking, 1956), Six Foolish Fishermen (Childrens, 1957), The Big Jump and Other Stories (Random House, 1958), The True Book of Schools (Childrens, 1958), The King’s Wish and Other Stories (Random House, 1960), The True Book of Money (Childrens, 1960), Lucky and the Giant (Childrens, 1962), Al and the Magic Lamp (Harper, 1963), and Why the Sun Was Late (Parents, 1966).

Reviews

[Shayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a fly, who gets proud, and bugs two boys. And then that leads to a chain of events where a mother birds six eggs get cracked. And this mother bird will not sing to let the sun rise ever again because she is so sad. So mother earth calls a meeting to find out what is going on. The chain of events leads back to the fly. And when mother earth asks the fly to explain his actions he says buzz. He will not talk to mother earth, so mother earth curses him, and all the fly can ever say is buzz. The mother bird sings because her eggs have been restored, and the sun rises every morning without fail.
I really enjoy this book, it has beautiful art work that makes you feel the seriousness of the situation that the world is in when the mother bird won’t sing. It also teaches many valuable lessons like, don’t be prideful, and that choices you make have consequences.
I would use this book every day. I know that children would love it. It helps them use their counting skills up to five. And it teaches them cause and effect. It also teaches them, that no matter what you have done, you should speak up and share your side so you don’t get punished even more.

[Debby · Rating 3 out of 5]

One fly sat on an old tree which was about to fall over. When the fly landed, the tree fell. The fly felt important and flew off to see what else he could do. He buzzed two boys in a tree who swatted a branch upsetting 3 squirrels, who landed on four sleeping snakes, who surprised five elephants, who cracked six bird eggs. The bird was so upset she failed to sing to wake the sun. The great spirit made her eggs whole, she sang, the sun came up, and the fly was only able to say "buzz" afterwards.

Mediocre story with fair color pictures.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great use of color.