Abigail and the Birth of the Sun | Matthew Cunningham

A bright and beautiful exploration of the big bang theory and the birth of our solar system for young children, all wrapped up in a bedtime story. Abigail is a curious little girl. She likes to discover the answers to really BIG questions. One night, she thinks of a question that's SO BIG she can't sleep until she knows the answer. "Daddy," she asks as he tucks her into bed, "where did the sun and all the planets come from?" To find out the answer, Daddy invites Abigail on a magical journey through time and space. Together they explore the birth of all living things. By the next morning, Abigail has thought of another big question . . . A gorgeously illustrated and beautifully told bedtime story that doubles as an introduction to astrophysics, Abigail and the Birth of the Sun will be enjoyed equally by young children and adults.

Matthew Cunningham is a passionate and dedicated historian with a Doctor of Philosophy (History) from Victoria University of Wellington. He has published oral histories, peer-reviewed articles, journalistic and encyclopedic pieces, and Waitangi Tribunal research commissions. He lives in Porirua and works as a researcher. He is active on Facebook and is a member of a number of parent groups, including several for gifted children. Abigail and the Birth of the Sun is his first published children's book. Sarah Wilkins was born in Lower Hutt. The middle child of seven, she dreamed of becoming a solo explorer. Dreaming and drawing, which she loved, go together, so she became an illustrator instead. Sarah works for clients all around the globe and has won many awards for her work. She lives in Wellington and sometimes in Paris, France, and still likes to explore everything in between.