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  • Published: 16 December 2026
  • ISBN: 9780593694466
  • Imprint: Viking
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $45.00

Sunday Service




From the critically-acclaimed writer of My Block Looks Like and Salon Saturday comes another picture book that celebrates a sacred ritual in Black culture: Sunday morning church services!

A young girl and her family wake up before the sun rises and begin their Sunday-morning routine for church. Dad greets everyone at the breakfast table with kisses while Mama presses pleats and lays edges. Soon the whole family piles into the car and sets the radio to the Gospel station.

The aisle becomes a runway as members of the congregation, dressed in their Sunday-morning best, find their seats among the pews. Once the service begins, the main character does her best to calm her nerves as she waits for her drum solo. She takes a deep breath before rat-a-tat-tatting on the snare and booming on the base. The congregation explodes with joy, rocking and swaying, praying and praising! The young girl's family looks on with pride before piling back into the car and looking forward to doing it all again next week.

  • Published: 16 December 2026
  • ISBN: 9780593694466
  • Imprint: Viking
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $45.00

Praise for Sunday Service

Praise for Salon Saturday by Janelle Harper and Charlot Kristensen:

"This book is perfect for a lap sit or story time that focuses on littles finding beauty in themselves, community traditions, and connections to elders." --BCCB Reviews

"An upbeat introduction to a beloved rite of passage." --Kirkus Reviews

Praise for My Block Looks Like by Janelle Harper and Frank Morrison:

*"The artist’s careful attention to detail and the shifting visual perspectives in action scenes bring Harper’s musical text to life. The narrator argues convincingly for the Bronx as 'the coolest place I’ve ever been,' where 'dreams rise higher than the smog' and neighbors 'sparkle under streetlamps.' A culturally rich and beautifully illustrated child’s-eye view of home." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

*"Kinetic, portrait-filled art from Morrison (Breaking to the Beat!) reveals the neighborhood’s sights (double Dutch, the Icee man, pickup games), vibrantly conveying the essence of the protagonist’s home: "my city/ my hood/ my block. My home/ my village/ my family/ my friends/ my soul." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "Harper’s block (she hails from the Bronx) is alive, aptly called "my soul," and supported by Morrison’s images and warm colors, a refreshing invitation to visit or imagine this vivid, memorable place." --The Horn Book, starred review

"Dynamic details and an expansive sense of possibility . . . A caring depiction of urban life that will resonate with listeners who love the bustling energy and beauty of the place they call home." --BCCB Reviews

"Morrison paints vibrant spreads . . . The poetic text reads like a song and makes for a perfect read-aloud story . . . A positive and uplifting book that can be appreciated by all readers." --School Library Journal