Sunakay

Gr 3-6–Marti and Salomó capture the realities of a world plagued by pollution in this remarkable collaboration. The narrative follows two sisters who live on an island full of plastic called Sunakay, a combination of their names—Sunan and Kay. Their lives are surrounded by garbage, and they have become accustomed to existing with this reality. Suddenly, an accident changes the future of their island and their lives. The majority of the scenes in this highly illustrated picture book for older readers are ones of Sunan and Kay trying to find their ways to each other in a dystopian future filled with tsunamis of trash. The lyrical and spare prose will draw readers in, and the jewel-tone illustrations are mesmerizing. The blues of the terrifying but majestic seas and the yellows of the life-giving but terrible sun are captivating. The narrative sometimes veers toward the fantastical, making this sometimes feel allegorical, adding to the tale’s timely message. The sisters are still separated at the end, hinting at a possible sequel, leaving readers with hope for the future.