Common Sense Media Review
By Mandie Caroll
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Season-smart Bird teaches Squirrel in silly summer tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE SUN THIEF is nowhere to be seen as the summer days seem to last forever. So long, in fact, that Bird heads to bed even though it's still light out! A few weeks later, Squirrel notices that it's dark out while brushing their teeth—but it was light out the night before! Squirrel runs to Bird, sure the Sun Thief has come and stolen the light! Science, of course, explains the things Squirrel finds confusing about how summer's changing, and Bird patiently shares seasonal facts in kid-friendly language that slowly convinces Squirrel that there is no Sun Thief, it's just that days get longer at the start of summer and shorter toward the end.
Is It Any Good?
Squirrely Squirrel and brainy Bird are back for a delightful summery tale about adapting to changes within a season. The Sun Thief is another winning mash-up of seasonal science and charming animal personalities. Kids who live in the world's temperate regions will see their own confusion reflected in Squirrel's when summer bedtimes start while it's still light out, and when it starts to get darker earlier—because the sun is supposed to stay out late in the summer, right? Bird's compassionate, patient manner with Squirrel bring to mind a sweet parent-child relationship, while the detailed information at the end adds helpful context to this silly, endearing story that's perfect for the warmer months.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about summer as shown in The Sun Thief. How do Squirrel and Bird enjoy summer? How does summer change as it goes on? What are your favorite things to do in the summer?
Have you had the experience of needing to go to bed when it was still light out? What was that like? Read the final pages of the book. What happens during summer in the North and South poles? What would having no night for months be like?
Squirrel feels confused, shocked, unsettled, and suspicious about the changes in light and dark during the summer, as well as the animals Squirrel encounters at night. How does Squirrel get support for these big feelings? How does Bird communicate with Squirrel in a way that helps? How does Squirrel begin to self-soothe and show self-control in this story?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Nicola Slater
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Animals ( Wild Animals ) , Friendship , STEM ( Nature )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Compassion , Empathy , Self-control
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
- Publication date : April 28, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : June 9, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate