JoAnn Grace, a nanny with twelve years of hands-on childcare experience, has released two children's picture books designed to turn everyday moments into joyful learning opportunities. Good Morning, Sunshine, a rhythmic picture book for toddlers and preschoolers, celebrates the start of the day, while its companion, Good Afternoon, Rain, helps young children face stormy weather with curiosity instead of fear. Both books draw directly on Grace's years of caring for little ones and reflect her belief that children thrive on repetition, rhyme, and rhythm.
Good Morning, Sunshine unfolds in a large yellow room where young readers greet everything around them: the fireplace, the bookshelf, the drapes, the toys, and even a cat chasing a rat. Each page pairs gentle rhyming text with a repeated “Good morning” refrain, inviting children to point, name, and join in. The format is intentional: by introducing familiar objects, colors, and shapes, the book supports early literacy and vocabulary building while encouraging positive morning routines and gratitude. At 24 pages of simple, sing-song text, it is designed as a quick, cozy read for bedtime, morning routines, and quiet moments at home or in the classroom.
Its companion, Good Afternoon, Rain, follows a group of toddlers watching a thunderstorm from a sunlit window. They long to go outside, but the wind and rain have other plans. As lightning flashes and thunder rumbles, the children feel both fear and wonder, asking the questions every child asks: When will it stop? Why is it so loud and bright? Rather than dismissing those worries, Grace answers with comfort and imagination. The children settle in with picture books, blocks, and a wooden train, build blanket forts, and turn a gray rainy day into an adventure. By the end, they greet the storm itself with a cheerful “Good afternoon, thunder, lightning, and rain.”
The implications of these releases extend beyond entertainment. Grace's approach addresses two core areas of early childhood development: literacy and emotional learning. The rhyming text in both books builds phonological awareness and vocabulary, while the repeated refrains encourage participation and prediction skills. In Good Afternoon, Rain, the narrative explicitly names feelings and models coping strategies, helping toddlers process fear and uncertainty. For parents, grandparents, nannies, and teachers, the books also offer practical value: Good Morning, Sunshine reinforces daily routines, and Good Afternoon, Rain provides fresh indoor play ideas for stormy weather.
Grace's background informs every page. She began babysitting at age 12, raised four children of her own, and has worked as a nanny for the past twelve years. As she nears 65, she plans to retire from nannying but not from making a positive difference in children's lives. Becoming an author allows her to keep sharing joy, warmth, and love with little ones everywhere. “I dedicated this book to every child I have cared for, because each one is a blessing,” Grace says of Good Morning, Sunshine. “I wanted to create a book that feels like a hug and a bright start to the day.” Of the rainy-day story, she adds: “Storms can feel big and scary to little ones. I wanted to show that with a cozy space, a good book, and friends nearby, a rainy afternoon can become an adventure.”
Both titles will be available in print and digital formats through major book retailers and online platforms. More information about the author and her work is available at https://joanngracebooks.com/.
