Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own. I am working with Stephanie Henson and The Children's Book Review to bring you this post.
Little kids always want to be taller. Think about it. When they are surrounded by adults or older kids, they cannot see above the people. It must be a bit frustrating. I think this is why so many of them want to be picked up or carried on someone's shoulders. Imagine the change in view when they are on someone's shoulders. It would be like climbing a ladder or perhaps even like being on the balcony of the penthouse of a high rise. Today I am sharing a fun book about a young girl and her imagination when her father puts her on his shoulders at the beach. The book is Tall as the Sun by Stephanie Henson and illustrated by Yasmin Akhtar. This review has a giveaway at the end of it!
About the Book:
Tall as the Sun Written by Stephanie Henson & Illustrated by Yasmin AkhtarAges: 0–12 | 30 Pages | Publisher: Watchful Wizard Publishing (2026) | ISBN: 978-1-969819-01-8
Publisher's Book Summary: Tall as the Sun is a heartfelt story that takes readers on a lyrical journey through the eyes of a child as they discover the magic of perspective during a day at the beach with Dad. As our little hero rises higher and higher on Dad's shoulders, the world transforms into a playground of endless possibilities. From soaring with seagulls to reaching the top of sandcastles, each page brings a new adventure.
Praise: "It's easy to picture grandparents or parents reading this book to a child before bed as they drift off to dream of sunny beaches, lulled by the rhythmic sound of ocean waves." —Readers' Favorite (5 Stars)
Purchase Links:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
About the Author:
Stephanie Henson lives with her family in West Chester, Pennsylvania, with roots in Central New Jersey. She holds a degree in Communications and a Publishing and Professional Writing Certificate from Rider University, and spends her summers in Ocean City, NJ. An active member of SCBWI (Eastern PA Chapter), Stephanie was a 2024 SCBWI Virtual Conference Scholarship winner, and her work has been featured in both print and online publications.
She is the author of the children's poetry collection In the Right Lane (a #1 New Release in Children's Poetry) and the picture book No School, My Rules! (a #1 New Release in Children's School & Education Books and a Tielmour Press best-seller). Tall as the Sun is her newest picture book, releasing with Watchful Wizard Publishing in May 2026.
Beyond her literary pursuits, Stephanie is a passionate advocate for underrepresented creators living with chronic illness, drawing on her own experience with autoimmune conditions. When she's not writing, she's reading, catching a show, watching Netflix, admiring sunflowers, cheering on sports, or sipping coffee.
To learn more, visit:
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From Me:
This story is fun and creative. The beach is crowded so Dad puts the young girl on his shoulders and with each step she imagines something new. Things like flying with the sea gulls or soaring with the kites. She describes the views from her dad's shoulders and how tall she feels. It is a magical place and for this girl the trip to the beach is completely magical. She imagines different things with each person and thing she sees. It is full of fun and creativity. Some of the words are repeated throughout the story to truly send the message of how it feels to be up so high and seeing the world from a different perspective. The book ends with her going to bed and hoping to dream of all the things she saw and thoughts she had and of course repeating it again the next day.
I love that the story is about a day with just her dad and the girl. It shares that special bond between a father and daughter and is perfect for Father's Day. It also fantasizes an ordinary day from a new point of view. The young girl's imagination soars just like the kites, birds and airplane. She feels special and loves being so tall. To her it feels like she is as tall as the sun and it is magical. Do you remember the magical feelings of childhood? This book helps bring them back or perhaps create them for other children. The book is a perfect one to talk about memories or perhaps preparing for a trip to the beach. It talks about what the girl observes, and it could be a great discussion opener on observations. To go with this book a trip to the beach would be amazing but really going out in nature and observing would work. Or if possible, change the point of view whether it is putting a child on your shoulders or finding somewhere to climb and have a view looking down at things. See what everyone observes and compare it. Have kids make stories about the things they see. This book is a starting point filled with creative and imaginative stories and sights and beautiful illustrations. It helps make memories even more special from an ordinary walk on the beach.
Giveaway:
Readers who join us on this virtual book tour will have the chance to win one of four prizes. One grand prize winner will take home a special bundle featuring signed copies of No School, My Rules!, In the Right Lane, and Tall as the Sun, plus a curated book basket filled with fun, bookish goodies. Three additional readers will each win a signed copy of Tall as the Sun. Good luck!!
