Sundust

Praise for Sundust by Zeke Peña:

A 2026 Randolph Caldecott Honor Book
The Society of Illustrators Original Art Show selection
A 2026 Tomás Rivera Book Award (younger readers category)
An ALSC 2026 Notable Children’s Book (All Ages category)
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2025
An NPR ‘Books We Love 2025’ selection
A Kirkus Best Picture Book of 2025
A Children’s Book Review 40 of the Best Picture Books of 2025
A Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature (CSMCL) Best Books of 2025
A 2025 The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (BCCB) Blue Ribbon Award




★ “…stunning…Author-illustrator Peña breathes life into the desert setting…Kids who find magic in everything around them will appreciate this lovely reassurance that they are even more connected to the world than they think.”
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review

★ “In a wide-ranging solo debut, Peña (My Papi Has a Motorcycle) imagines two Latinx-cued children exploring a sweeping desertscape…. Speech bubbles add levity to energy-charged prose through this surreal exploration of the way the natural world endures and transforms.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ “A hypnotic joy.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ “Spectacular…This book connects the magic of imagination, nature, and childhood beautifully.”
—School Library Journal, starred review

“Pena offers a depiction of place and wonder that transcends borders and national identity…poignant and timely.”
—Horn Book

“The mix of traditional illustration methods, graphite pencil, colored pencil, and gouache gives a fresh, contemporary feel… Hand-lettered words for emphasis and occasional speech bubbles add fun graphic-novel elements.”
—Booklist Online