23 July 2025 DAWN by Marc Martin, Candlewick/Candlewick Studio, July 2025, 48p., ISBN: 978-1-5362-3240-0

“Dawn is a feeling, a beautiful ceiling

The smell of grass just makes you pass into a dream

You're here today, no future fears

This day will last a thousand years

If you want it to”

–  Moody Blues (1967)

“Dawn

dew

deer

sound 

spring

still”

DAWN by Marc Martin is a gorgeous picture book that reveals not the tiniest sign of humanity anywhere. Instead, through multiple series of images, each frame accompanied by a single-word caption, the author-illustrator presents nature in all of its early-morning glory, as the sun begins to lighten the horizon. 

“fly

fish

flight

follow

jump

catch

dive

swallow”

Among the events taking place, there is a deer drinking at a pond; dandelion fluff being blown away in the wind; a new butterfly leaving its chrysalis; a frog sticking out its tongue, but missing the passing insect; a fish who successfully nails its flying prey; and a spread showing a close-up of a solitary bird calling opposite a pair of trees filled with birds chorusing.

Perhaps, the most playful sequence is a four-frame spread of a ladybug who climbs a blade of grass, takes a drink, and is catapulted into the air as that drop of dew falls down and the blade straightens up:

“climb

quench

drip

drop”

The illustrations really are something else. Marc Martin’s digitally-altered watercolors are really what makes this a must-have that little ones will pore over for extended periods.

The near-wordless tale concludes with the sun escaping the distant hills and lighting the early morning. DAWN is an absolute not-to-miss treat! 

Richie Partington, MLIS

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