16 Feb Review: Sunny Wants to Play
Sunny Wants to Play
Written and illustrated by: Katty Maurey
Tundra, 2025
ISBN: 9781774884812 (hardcover)
9781774884829 (EPUB)
$24.99 CAD (paperback)
$11.99 CAD (EPUB)
40 pages
Ages: 4-7 years old
Review by: Cassandra Ricafort
Sunny not only lives with her parents and grandparents, but also with her aunts and uncles. Although she has such a big family, she often feels lonely being the only child amongst adults. When a neighbour knocks on her door, Sunny soon learns that while it is fun to have other children to play with, being alone also has its advantages. Author/illustrator Katty Maurey does a great job of introducing elements of her Chinese heritage into the story while making the focus an everyday topic any child can relate to in some way. Sunny Wants to Play can be a useful discussion tool for an only child struggling with loneliness. It delves into the struggles of only children in an easy way for them to understand, serving as a reminder that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side—there are perks to being an only child! The simple sentence structure and short text make this beautifully illustrated picture book a good first read for young learners and an excellent addition to any child’s library.