Sunshine and Moonbeams

It would seem a great irony that poetry, like its origin in verse, requires any explanation whatsoever. Whether you are a fan of poetry or not, the magic of verse oriented mnemonics has been in almost every human brain since "the mouse ran up the clock." Consider then, Sunshine and Moonbeams: A Treasury of Poems and Prayers, written and collected by Jill S. McIntyre, illustrated by Rebecka L. Sasich, a new volume of verse, descended from the brood of Mother Goose, to rekindle a love for nature, earth, seasons and spirituality. Uniquely illustrated in a vivid Bauhaus style, each artwork creates a delightful visual tapestry that provides each verse with a depth of imagery re-defining the term "eye-candy." Originally dubbed as "a Treasury of Poems and Prayers for Children of the Goddess," Sunshine and Moonbeams is a warmly welcome addition to the cannon of rhymes for children inspired by, in the words of Arthur author Marc Brown, "Thomas Fleet of Pudding Lane in Boston" who collected and published the "melodies" of his mother in law, the eternally beloved "Mother Goose," in 1719. It is no question that great visual art can emote a variety of emotion, both spiritual and verbal. The illustrations that enliven the background of this treasury, as created by Rebecka L. Sasich and rendered in tribute to the spirit of Lyonel Feininger, the first faculty member of the famous Bauhaus group, give McIntyre's verses the whimsical, kaleidoscopic vibrancy that they playfully demand, reminding us that poetry, like its sibling, song, is an art form that begs to be performed aloud, as the imagery converses with our souls in a universal language. In her book, WEE RHYMES, author Jane Yolen presents an even richer rationale for poetic connectivity in her introduction, A Letter from Two Grandmothers: "Rhymes are our earliest cultural artifacts. Children who are given poetry early will have a fullness inside. Mother Goose rhymes, baby verse - that kind of singsong, sing-along rhythm -- is as important as a heartbeat. Add pictures to them, and you have the whole early childhood package. Just add the love." These poems represent a fifteen year labor of love, achieved by two women who are earthly goddesses in their own right, as artists, cousins, daughters, and mother. In faith, the very ribbon on this delightful poetic package comes from its original inspiration, the authors daughter, Emily Owenn McIntyre, now a creative artist on her own journey, which may have begun when, at four years old, she first wrote the verse that inspired this "treasury" in 1998 (see dedications): Moonbeams, they glitter like stars Moonbeams, they shine on flowers Moonbeams, they sparkle on me Sunshine and Moonbeams: A Treasury of Poems and Prayers is guaranteed to sparkle in the heart of every reader.