Berger, Carin. In the Night Garden. Neal Porter Books, 2023.  978-0-8234-4986-6. Unpaged. Grades K-1. $18.99.

This picture book is a wonderful addition to the genre of bedtime stories. Using simple text, the author describes the wonders that can be found outdoors after nightfall, as observed by a young girl’s black cat. In the darkness, some creatures are winding down their day, but Mother Nature is still busy as fireflies illuminate, stars twinkle in the sky, and bats flap their wings. Even though the evening is quiet and shadowy, a survey of the garden is a treat for the senses, where one can see a brilliant harvest moon, feel the wind blowing snow, smell the moonflowers, and hear crickets chirping, even as Mother Fox hurries her cubs home to bed. As the story comes to a close, the cat and the girl are fast asleep in bed, likely to be joined by readers lulled to sleep by the author’s soothing prose. The superb illustrations were created using the technique of collage. Cut paper was “…made from hand, using found ephemera and scraps of paper…”.  Even though the background color of each page is black, the colors of the flora and fauna are vibrant, which creates a reassuring and calming tone. 

THOUGHTS: Readers and listeners will want to experience this charming picture book again and again either as a bedtime story or in a story circle.  They especially will be interested in finding the black cat pictured on every two page spread. This book is highly recommended for elementary collections and could be a Caldecott contender.

Picture Book