What Is the Sun?

Parents enduring the ``Why?'' stage of child development will appreciate this poetic, serenely illustrated explanation of the sun and other natural wonders. A bedtime conversation set in verse, the narrative is crafted from a boy's questions and his grandmother's patient replies: ``What is the sun? / The sun is a star. / Is the sun near? / No, it is far.'' One subject flows naturally into the next, from the sun to the moon, tides, wind, rain and earth. A few rhymes are forced--``The wind comes and goes? / It goes right through your nose!''--but most are clever, imparting just enough information to satisfy curious preschoolers. Full-spread illustrations depict the topic discussed--such as the wind blowing a pinwheel--while insets show the grandmother preparing the boy for bed. Lambert's colorful pastels are rendered sweetly, a festive yet peaceful backdrop for a tender bedtime exchange that most families will identify with. Ages 3-up. (May)