Tag Archives: Night

Elem. – In the Night Garden

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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

Elem. – The Dark Was Done

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Stringer, Lauren. The Dark Was Done. Beach Lane, 2022. 978-1-534-46393-3. 48 p. $18.99. Grades PK-3.

The Dark Was Done spins a modern folktale about when the Dark, tired of being pushed away by lights and fears of humanity, decides to leave the earth. Initially, the boy at the center of the story and those around him do not miss the dark and go on with their daily business. But over time, the boy begins to realize what he has lost–the song of crickets, the hoot of owls, the stars–and goes on a journey to find the Dark and persuade it to return. Along the way, the boy is joined by others yearning for that which is missing. As the voice of one boy becomes the voice of many, the Dark is persuaded to return… and embraces the community that, in turn, embraces it.

THOUGHTS: Lauren Stringer’s illustrations are a wonderful compliment to her writing, reflecting the Dark’s personification in the text as a warm, mysterious entity. The people in the community are as diverse as they are foolish and frequently strike a fanciful note with their peaked caps. Small details, like the teddy bear the boy brings on his journey, a burglar portrayed as a racoon, and speech bubbles that illustrate the joys of night that the community is missing make the story both child-friendly and worthy of reading again and again. A beautiful story with beautiful illustrations. Highly recommended.

Picture Book          Hannah J. Thomas, Central Bucks SD

Elem. – Dark on Light

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White, Dianne. Dark on Light. Beach Lane Books, 2022. 978-1-534-48789-5. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades PreK-2.

As twilight arrives, three children head outside to explore. Equipped with a flashlight, they walk through the fields and into the forest, admiring the wonders of nature as they appear in the shadows of the night. Eventually, they make their way back home and snuggle into their cozy beds, where they will sleep until morning. Gorgeous illustrations and lyrical text make this a beautiful nod to nature’s hidden nighttime beauty.

THOUGHTS: I absolutely love the breathtaking artwork in this book. In the opening spread, twilight descends upon a farm in all of its colorful glory. Over the next couple of pages, the sky turns a color reminiscent of the most beautiful sunset and then eventually fades to black. Despite the darkness, however, the wonders of nature are illuminated by a flashlight and by the stars and moon. This book serves as a gentle, lovely reminder that even when things seem dark, there is always still beauty and light. Coupled with these gorgeous illustrations, the rhyming, repetitive text makes this a perfect bedtime read aloud for young children.

Picture Book          Julie Ritter, PSLA Member

Elem. – The Midnight Club

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Goth, Shane. The Midnight Club. Owlkids, 2021. 978-1-771-47394-1. Unpaged. $19.95. Grades PreK-1. 

Milly and her older sister Becca are members of the Midnight Club. When the clock strikes midnight, they quietly slip downstairs to explore their darkened home. As any good club does, the Midnight Club has rules. The siblings must tiptoe around the criss-crossed shadows of the upstairs window panes. Another rule of this magical time at night is that they can do whatever they want–whether it be sitting in their father’s chair and sampling his jelly beans or trying on their mother’s coat. They are joined in their adventures by a third member of the club–Oliver the cat. When their eyes grow heavy and they begin to yawn, it’s time to bring the club meeting to an end and return to their room before they are discovered. Young Ling Kang’s watercolor, pencil and digital illustrations bathe the darkened house in hues of blue and purple, with yellow street lights shining in through windows. This helps to create the shadows that the girls use to make shapes on the wall during their nighttime escapades. 

THOUGHTS: A sibling secret club will be quite relatable to many children, as will the idea of embarking upon home-exploring adventures. Kang’s illustrations lend the story a sense of nighttime stillness and atmosphere perfect for night adventures. Recommended. 

Picture Book            Elizabeth Henry, Lampeter-Strasburg SD

Elem. – Moonbeams: A Lullaby of the Phases of the Moon

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Bausum, Ann. Moonbeams: A Lullaby of the Phases of the Moon. Little Bee Books. 2020. 978-1-499-81033-2. $17.99. Grades K-3.

The lullaby of the world calling to the moon and the moon calling back is an exquisite read. People and animals all over the world call out to the moon, “What do you see?” and the moon responds in kind with that it sees and the phase that the moon is at. As the moon travels through phases, the callers are never alone, even when the moon is not able to be seen. The callers know that they are never alone, wrapped up in the guiding light and hug of the moon.

THOUGHTS: This swell lullaby of the phases of the moon provides a simple story to young readers. More advanced readers will enjoy the informational portion at the back of the book that is filled with information about the moon itself, phases of the the moon and what they mean, and extended information that can be accessed both online and in print.

Picture Book          Rachel Burkhouse, Otto-Eldred SD