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You Are My Sunshine
Illustrated by the best-selling artist, Caroline Jayne Church, finally this classic song is becoming a children's board book!
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.
You make me happy when skies are gray.
Lovingly illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church, the bestselling artist from I LOVE YOU THROUGH AND THROUGH, this is the first of her new three book song series. YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE has become well-known and well-loved by parents and children everywhere. Using the uplifting chorus, this board book with a foil cover is perfect for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, or any day!
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.
You make me happy when skies are gray.
Lovingly illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church, the bestselling artist from I LOVE YOU THROUGH AND THROUGH, this is the first of her new three book song series. YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE has become well-known and well-loved by parents and children everywhere. Using the uplifting chorus, this board book with a foil cover is perfect for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, or any day!
12 pages, Board Book
First published January 1, 2011
8 people are currently reading
559 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
November 4, 2024
My mom sang this to me when I was a little boy - will always associate this song with her. When I hear this song I think of all the things my mother has done for me - how much she sacrificed because she always put my brother and I before anything else. This book will make a small child feel special if you read/sing it to them.
December 20, 2022
2022 - Forgot I’d read this last year. This time I read it with my daughter. She enjoyed the book’s gold and shiny cover. While reading it to her, I realized how creepy this song can be. “My only sunshine.” My only happiness. That’s a lot of pressure on a kid or anyone.
2021 - Cute book to sing along with your toddler. Would’ve liked some illustrations of parent and child instead of just the child with their stuffed animal.
2021 - Cute book to sing along with your toddler. Would’ve liked some illustrations of parent and child instead of just the child with their stuffed animal.
September 29, 2014
“YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE” by Jimmie Davis is an animated version of the children’s song. I had no clue it was a book until I walked into Barnes and Nobel and saw it with my own eyes. It’s a literal take on the children’s song that we all know and love. Little children hold onto their teddy bears and sing them the song. I had never pictured the song to be about a child singing to their toy but it is a darling little book.
Something I really liked about this book was the way the text was laid out. Because we want to sing it when we read it, it is laid out in a way that makes that possible. The words flow in waves on the page and swirl around the illustrations for a fun reading experience. Sometimes the text stands out boldly against the pages, while other times it calmly stays in the background and lets the picture speak of itself. The cover is a perfect example of how the words fit around the illustration!
Another thing that really caught my eye in this book were the illustrations. The children with huge heads and little smiles are adorable to me! The bears also have huge heads and little facial features, which I just can’t get over. I think the illustrator’s style was captured perfectly in this book, but at the same time the illustrations are not distracting from the text or song as a whole. Rather, they add to the overall experience of the book and make it a great children’s book for all ages.
Something I really liked about this book was the way the text was laid out. Because we want to sing it when we read it, it is laid out in a way that makes that possible. The words flow in waves on the page and swirl around the illustrations for a fun reading experience. Sometimes the text stands out boldly against the pages, while other times it calmly stays in the background and lets the picture speak of itself. The cover is a perfect example of how the words fit around the illustration!
Another thing that really caught my eye in this book were the illustrations. The children with huge heads and little smiles are adorable to me! The bears also have huge heads and little facial features, which I just can’t get over. I think the illustrator’s style was captured perfectly in this book, but at the same time the illustrations are not distracting from the text or song as a whole. Rather, they add to the overall experience of the book and make it a great children’s book for all ages.
October 23, 2025
I loved singing this book with Mama!
February 8, 2017
I chose this book for one of the baby and toddler books. I love reading this story to babies and toddlers because it is short enough that it keeps their attention. The pages are also shiny and bright with pictures of a young child that they love looking at and the book can be sung as well as read. This is an adorable story to enjoy with children. The children also love just looking at the book.
December 4, 2022
Exceptionally boring.
I don't know, was I weird? My mom sang me this song all the time when I was growing up, and I would much rather concentrate on her face than on pictures as she is singing it. To be honest, she still sings it to me and I still like looking at her face as she sings it.
Looking at pictures just doesn't do it for me. It is a lovesong. Wouldn't you rather look at the object of your love and have them look at you while you are crooning it to them?
I don't know, was I weird? My mom sang me this song all the time when I was growing up, and I would much rather concentrate on her face than on pictures as she is singing it. To be honest, she still sings it to me and I still like looking at her face as she sings it.
Looking at pictures just doesn't do it for me. It is a lovesong. Wouldn't you rather look at the object of your love and have them look at you while you are crooning it to them?
February 16, 2013
This simple board book is a good companion for the song "You are my sunshine." The words follow the lyrics of the song exactly so a caregiver could sing or read the story. The pictures are simple and appealing to toddlers. Each 2-page spread shows a different child with their favorite stuffed animal. A very sweet, but simple book for caregivers to share with their little ones.
March 1, 2014
This book was excessively cute, but in this case excessive was a good thing. I loved the board book style that makes it so easy to read with toddlers. The illustrations were also very adorable. The pictures, plus having the words of the song written on the page make this book a fun learning activity. I can definitely see myself reading this with me kids.
March 22, 2018
What a lovely book. Sang it together as a unison read during my toddler storytime.
October 24, 2023
Jack borrowed this book from the Ashland Public Library.
It has the lyrics to the song on illustrations of kids with their favorite stuffed animals. Jack wasn’t super interested until I sang the words to him, then he smiled. I used to sing this song to hjm when he was little and sometimes subbed sunshine for his name.
It has the lyrics to the song on illustrations of kids with their favorite stuffed animals. Jack wasn’t super interested until I sang the words to him, then he smiled. I used to sing this song to hjm when he was little and sometimes subbed sunshine for his name.
March 11, 2017
1. Awards: Jimmie Davis was awarded the Grammy Hall of Fame for this song
2. Grade Level: Preschool to Kindergarten
3. Summary: This song book expresses the love someone has for another by comparing them to sunshine. The illustrations explain the song through a child’s love for his/her stuffed animal. The children are shown cuddling, playing with, and falling asleep with their stuffed animal.
4. Review: Calling someone sunshine is such a beautiful metaphor because the sun is one of the brightest and warmest thing in existence. The illustrations are child-friendly which makes the song book relatable to children. It is a warm song that any person at any age would love.
5. Possible In-Class Use: Children could create their own stuffed animal out of paper. They could cut out each part of the body and glue them together. They would cut out the head, body, arms, legs, nose, ears, eyes, tail. Once they are finished putting it together, then they can glue it onto a stick. This activity fosters creativity, imagination, motor skills, and they can practice making shapes the same size. Another in-class use, which also can tie to the previous activity would be to have the children sing this song as a chorus holding their sticks with their animal of choice. Their family and/or friends can come and watch. There would also be snacks and drinks for the audience. This allows children to gain comfort in the classroom with each other and builds a bond with the children’s families to get everyone together.
2. Grade Level: Preschool to Kindergarten
3. Summary: This song book expresses the love someone has for another by comparing them to sunshine. The illustrations explain the song through a child’s love for his/her stuffed animal. The children are shown cuddling, playing with, and falling asleep with their stuffed animal.
4. Review: Calling someone sunshine is such a beautiful metaphor because the sun is one of the brightest and warmest thing in existence. The illustrations are child-friendly which makes the song book relatable to children. It is a warm song that any person at any age would love.
5. Possible In-Class Use: Children could create their own stuffed animal out of paper. They could cut out each part of the body and glue them together. They would cut out the head, body, arms, legs, nose, ears, eyes, tail. Once they are finished putting it together, then they can glue it onto a stick. This activity fosters creativity, imagination, motor skills, and they can practice making shapes the same size. Another in-class use, which also can tie to the previous activity would be to have the children sing this song as a chorus holding their sticks with their animal of choice. Their family and/or friends can come and watch. There would also be snacks and drinks for the audience. This allows children to gain comfort in the classroom with each other and builds a bond with the children’s families to get everyone together.
March 12, 2017
Awards- none
Grade- Pre-K
This book is a great book for young children. The children in the book are showing the reader how much they love their teddy bears. The book is short but it is heartfelt. The book is a hard cardboard that is durable for young children. The song that goes along with the book is catchy and very simple, which makes it easy for young children to learn quickly.
You are my sunshine is a wonderful book to read to a child that you love and care for. The illustrations are well drawn. This book can be relatable to little children because they may have a stuffed animal that they love and care for very much and they may sing the song to them.
In the classroom this book can be read and sung to the children before nap time in a preschool or daycare. It can be nice a relaxing for them to calm down and sing a song. Another classroom activity is to have each child draw a picture of something or someone that they love very much after reading the book as a class.
Grade- Pre-K
This book is a great book for young children. The children in the book are showing the reader how much they love their teddy bears. The book is short but it is heartfelt. The book is a hard cardboard that is durable for young children. The song that goes along with the book is catchy and very simple, which makes it easy for young children to learn quickly.
You are my sunshine is a wonderful book to read to a child that you love and care for. The illustrations are well drawn. This book can be relatable to little children because they may have a stuffed animal that they love and care for very much and they may sing the song to them.
In the classroom this book can be read and sung to the children before nap time in a preschool or daycare. It can be nice a relaxing for them to calm down and sing a song. Another classroom activity is to have each child draw a picture of something or someone that they love very much after reading the book as a class.
August 13, 2018
1) Awards: None
2) Grades Preschool
3) This book has the chorus to the song “You are my sunshine” with pictures of children and their teddy bears.
4) I like this book because it is simple. It has simple pictures with little to no background detail and simple depictions of the children and their teddies. It is a board book with thick pages which is great for small hands to turn.
5) This book is great for small children, in class it can be used with the song or with just the teacher and class singing the chorus. It can help children see the connection between the words of the song and the words on the page. It can also help to talk about emotions and make connections between self and text. The song talks about being happy and how someone in their life makes them happy when they are sad.
2) Grades Preschool
3) This book has the chorus to the song “You are my sunshine” with pictures of children and their teddy bears.
4) I like this book because it is simple. It has simple pictures with little to no background detail and simple depictions of the children and their teddies. It is a board book with thick pages which is great for small hands to turn.
5) This book is great for small children, in class it can be used with the song or with just the teacher and class singing the chorus. It can help children see the connection between the words of the song and the words on the page. It can also help to talk about emotions and make connections between self and text. The song talks about being happy and how someone in their life makes them happy when they are sad.
February 27, 2014
If you like to sing to your children, this is a good book to sing to them. The pages are made of thick cardboard material, so toddlers might not chew through them quite as fast as paper. The lyrics are well known and it's a fun tune for kids to learn. The pictures were very nice and friendly as well.
December 27, 2013
Hahahaha me encontré este libro de 12 páginas en la librería y lo leí, es un lindo poema o canción, lo que sea me gustó
November 25, 2017
Cute illustrations set to a song well known. However, there is very little diversity present as all but one of the children illustrated is white.
June 27, 2017
This book turns the classic children's song into a children's book. Super cute!
August 19, 2017
I really liked this book because it was about love, and I love love!
November 3, 2017
These books have been a favorite with my babies. Very easy to sing to your infant. A great purchase.
November 13, 2020
You Are My Sunshine by Jimmie Davis won the following award:
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Best Book Award Winner
This book is appropriate for grade level Pre-K. The book is illustrated by, Caroline Jayne Church. The book is focused on a classic song which has become a children's board book. The book focuses on the song "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine". I personally love this book as my grandfather sang the song to me growing up, and I names my first hamster Sunshine, so the song is special to me. This book teaches children that they are loved and they bring happiness and light into others lives. In a classroom, I would have the students draw a personal portrait of their face using a mirror and colored pencils. After drawing their face, I would have them create a sun out of a paper plate and color it in. I would then have the glue on their self portrait to the plate. Their face will be the ray of sunshine!
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Best Book Award Winner
This book is appropriate for grade level Pre-K. The book is illustrated by, Caroline Jayne Church. The book is focused on a classic song which has become a children's board book. The book focuses on the song "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine". I personally love this book as my grandfather sang the song to me growing up, and I names my first hamster Sunshine, so the song is special to me. This book teaches children that they are loved and they bring happiness and light into others lives. In a classroom, I would have the students draw a personal portrait of their face using a mirror and colored pencils. After drawing their face, I would have them create a sun out of a paper plate and color it in. I would then have the glue on their self portrait to the plate. Their face will be the ray of sunshine!
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December 1, 2020AWARDS THIS BOOK HAS RECEIVED: None
APPROPRIATE GRADE LEVEL: Pre-School- Kindergarten
SUMMARY: this book is very simple to follow. It depicts one verse of the song on each page. The author is telling the child how much he or she is loved and it equates that love to the sunshine we need to be happy every day.
REVIEW: The cover of this book is a foil material that makes the sun and its rays jump off the page. Children will enjoy the feeling the foil material as well as holding the thick board book. Because this song is so well-known it will be easy for the child to recognize it even when not being read. There’s only one illustration on each page so the child will not be confused or distracted with too many details.
POSSIBLE USES IN THE CLASSROOM: This book will be useful with lesson plans for song, toys, weather colors, love, feelings and manners.
APPROPRIATE GRADE LEVEL: Pre-School- Kindergarten
SUMMARY: this book is very simple to follow. It depicts one verse of the song on each page. The author is telling the child how much he or she is loved and it equates that love to the sunshine we need to be happy every day.
REVIEW: The cover of this book is a foil material that makes the sun and its rays jump off the page. Children will enjoy the feeling the foil material as well as holding the thick board book. Because this song is so well-known it will be easy for the child to recognize it even when not being read. There’s only one illustration on each page so the child will not be confused or distracted with too many details.
POSSIBLE USES IN THE CLASSROOM: This book will be useful with lesson plans for song, toys, weather colors, love, feelings and manners.
January 12, 2022
Bright foil cover attracts attention and different children hold and hug their stuffed animals, but there's not much else. Interestingly, the one child (of seven) that isn't white is on the third page, and the drawing looks exactly like the (white) child on the cover, so I wonder if that was a result of an editor's push for diversity.
December 7, 2020
Awards the book has received: N/A
Appropriate grade levels: Baby- 3 yrs.
Original summary: Animated version of the popular children's song.
Original review: It was colorful and fun to read and follow.
1-2 possible in-class uses: Song to talk about feelings and weather
Appropriate grade levels: Baby- 3 yrs.
Original summary: Animated version of the popular children's song.
Original review: It was colorful and fun to read and follow.
1-2 possible in-class uses: Song to talk about feelings and weather
May 27, 2021
Cute illustrations as always but it is only the text from the song, nothing added or embellished. Somehow I was expecting more. Would be better for toddlers. My preschooler liked the shiny page accents but I couldn't read this one on loop like I can so easily do with others by this illustrator.
July 26, 2024
Personally became such a huge fan of this book because I could sing along to the pages on the book and it engages the kiddos attention SO much due to the colorful art! Definitely can read this book like three times within three minutes! 😂❤️
April 25, 2018
A book to sing together and read together!
May 27, 2018
Just a repeated section of lyrics from the song, illustrations are ok, nothing amazing.
January 9, 2019
Very sweet board book based on the old folk song.
October 16, 2019
Mommy and I love this song so we also love reading it.
*20 months old*
*20 months old*
February 10, 2020
This is a heart warming picture book. It is a sing along book with colorful illustrations of children playing in the sunshine. A great book to sing to young kids.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews