On a Summer Night
-
- 8,99 €
-
- 8,99 €
Publisher Description
Step into the quiet magic of this celebration of summer nighttime and the mystery of a world lit differently by the moon.
On a summer night, the world is still. Even the crickets think it’s too hot to sing. But all at once, a girl wakes. In the kitchen, the cat rolls onto its soft paws. A neighbor’s small white dog yaps, a brown rabbit peeks from a hedge, and the leaves of a cherry tree begin to stir in the breeze. Readers witness and wonder: Who has woken them all? In this soothing bedtime story, the quiet of a warm summer night is brought to vivid, magical life with the soft steps of bare feet, the padding of paws, and the bright, golden light of the moon. One by one, each creature is roused and then gently returned to sleep in a lovely and lyrical exploration of wakefulness, restfulness, and the mysterious calm of the night.
PERFECT FOR BEDTIME . . . OR ANYTIME: This beautifully illustrated children's book is ideal for soothing young readers to sleep—or encouraging a contemplative break in an energetic day. The story’s engagement with the wonders of nighttime will help children feel comforted by the dark and the prospect of going to sleep rather than afraid of them.
READ-ALOUD READINESS: With its lyricism and short refrains, this gentle story is just right for sharing.
CONNECTION TO NATURE: This magical book gradually reveals the moon as a character as it wakes girl, cat, dog, rabbit, tree, air, and cloud in turn—and connects them to one another through the welcoming quiet and wonder of a world gilded by moonlight.
THE POWER OF SLOWING DOWN: Picture books are often wonderful excuses to slow down and share a moment of gentleness in kids' (and parents') busy lives; this book feels like a deep breath and offers a chance to wonder and reflect.
Perfect for:Kids who can't sleep on hot summer nightsParents, grandparents, and caregivers seeking a sweet bedtime bookLibrarians and storytime leaders looking for a summer read-aloudGift givers who want to share a beautiful, lyrical book with someone specialReaders of such classic bedtime stories for kids as Goodnight Moon and The Going to Bed Book
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Alternating between descriptive lines and reiterative questions, a second-person narrative voice puts the reader at the center of this taut story set on a still summer night. A child with sleep-rumpled hair is seen upright in bed, their bedroom window open: "All at once/ you sit up straight/ and rub your eyes.// What has woken you?" Mysterious stirrings continue as the child pads to the kitchen and encounters a cat ("Who has woken her? Was it you?"). Signature-style flat graphic spreads by Pak (Leo and Lea), in a palette of dusky plum, forest green, and toasted ivory, underscore the night's velvety darkness as the child ventures outside, unafraid. A roused dog barks, a rabbit emerges from hiding, a tree's leaves sway, and a breath of air moves. Evocative lines from Hopkinson (Cinderella and a Mouse Called Fred) ask who woke each, capturing them all at moments of quickening. Pak hints at what's to come with small, crisp-edged intrusions of warm light that balance the book's considerable suspense until a gentle presence finally materializes. It's a luminous, intentionally paced work that captures a slow-moving encounter with the majestic dance of the natural world. Ages 3–5.
