Sunshine on My Shoulders (with Audio CD and Musical Score)

"The warmth of the sun shines throughout Canyon’s vision of the Denver song…" — Children’s Literature

It just makes sense – John Denver and kids! — Vince Gill, February 2003

Winner of the 2004 Publisher’s Marketing Association Benjamin Franklin Gold Award (Children’s Picture Book category) —

Celebrate living,
The laughter that sings in heart of a child,
The freedom that flies at the call of the wild,
Celebrate living.

Dawn Publications’ John Denver & Kids picture book series, illustrated by award-winning illustrator Christopher Canyon, includes: Sunshine On My Shoulders, Ancient Rhymes: A Dolphin Lullaby and Take Me Home, Country Roads.

Christopher Canyon is the illustrator of several wonderful books for children. When he isn’t in his studio, Christopher enjoys traveling and providing educational and entertaining programs for schools, libraries, and conferences. Christopher received his formal art education at the Columbus College of Art & Design in Columbus, Ohio. His work has been selected for many exhibits and publications including the Society of Illustrators, the Mazza Collection at the university of Findlay, Ohio, and the Natural History magazine.

Currently Christopher is adapting and illustrating several of John Denver’s songs as children’s picture books. The critically acclaimed Sunshine On My Shoulders was released by Dawn Publications in 2003, Ancient Rhymes: A Dolphin Lullaby in 2004, and Take Me Home, Country Roads in September 2005.

Christopher Canyon shares some thoughts on the project: “To have this opportunity to share John Denver’s music and message with the children of today is truly a dream. John gave the world so many thoughtful songs about relationships; our global need to live together in peace and the importance of caring for our environment. These messages, as relevant today as ever, and John’s music and voice continue to touch our lives and lift our spirits.”

Three of Christopher’s books, Sunshine On My Shoulders, The Tree in the Ancient Forest and Stickeen, have won the American Bookseller Association’s Benjamin Franklin Award for best children’s picture book of the year. Chistopher is also the illustrator of Wonderful Nature, Wonderful You and the beautiful Earth trilogy, Earth and You – A Closer View: Nature’s Features, Earth and Us – Continuous: Nature’s Past & Future, and Earth and Me – Our Family Tree: Nature’s Creatures. Christopher lives with his wife and cat in central Ohio.