A picture book about a desert fox named Kanu, and how he and his friends become un-afraid of the dark.

Sand Asleep is about overcoming fear through inner courage and learning to see that all of us can feel vulnerable at times.

Kanu, a very tiny desert fox, encounters an even tinier mouse, who shares a knack for hearing things that are far, far away. As they get engrossed in listening to the enchanting sounds around them, they hardly notice that the sun is setting. As they start to feel scared of the dark, they discover the company of other desert dwellers who cope with their own vulnerabilities in different ways. In the end, they find comfort in each other.

Testimonials

“Sarah let us read the whole thing! Sand Asleep overcame the citadel that is the mind of a 2 year old.”

- Blake and Jessica, San Francisco

“Sand Asleep is 🔥💯!”

- Nate and Marilyn, Los Angeles

Design

  • 26 spreads, digitally illustrated.

  • Modern, flat design that appeals to cartoon-weary parents.

  • Simple, high-contrast shapes for easy character recognition.

  • A broad palette of colorful gradients to engage young readers.

  • Call-and-response moments for parents prompting delightful chirps, hoots, and slurps from their little audiences.


Full color layflat binded prototype available for review on request.