It Is Night

by Phyllis Rowand, Laura Dronzek (Illustrator)

Overview

Acclaimed artist Laura Dronzek reimagines this timeless classic about bedtime in luminous, gorgeous art. This is a book that belongs on every child's nightstand along with Goodnight Moon and Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site.

A little girl says good-night and finds the perfect beds for each and every animal, for dolls big and small, and even for a railroad train. The elephant belongs in the jungle, the dog belongs in the doghouse, and the train belongs on its tracks, of course—but wait! In a gentle surprise ending, no matter where their beds should be, each animal or object is a toy. And so they all belong tucked into bed with the little girl because she loves them all. Laura Dronzek's cozy, sumptuous illustrations are the perfect complement to Phyllis Rowand's timeless text. This is a book that will find its place beside—or in!—every young reader's bed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062250247
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	04/22/2014
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	11.30(w) x 9.40(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Phyllis Rowand was the author and illustrator of several books for children, including Bears, George, and the first edition of It Is Night (originally published in 1953); as well as the illustrator of books by other authors, including The Growing Story, by Ruth Krauss. She lived with her family in Rowayton, Connecticut, where she had a circle of close friends that included Ruth Krauss, Dave "Crockett" Johnson, Gabor Peterdi, Leona Pierce and Antonio Frasconi, George Annand, and Paul Marinsky.

Laura Dronzek is a painter whose work has been exhibited nationally. Her picture books include Moonlight, by Helen V. Griffith; It Is Night, by Phyllis Rowand; White Is for Blueberry, by George Shannon; Little Houses, by Kevin Henkes; and a quartet of seasonal picture books also by Kevin Henkes. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

Editorial Reviews

Beginning with the soft glow of a moonlit house and the soft buttery tone of the facing page, this charming bedtime story sways with a gentle rhythm both aural and visual. . . . Luminous.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

From the Publisher

★ 04/01/2014
PreS-Gr 1—Fresh illustrations for Rowand's 1953 text reward young children, who are sure to enjoy this quiet, classic ode to bedtime. Repetitious phrases help create a soothing tone, while the pictures reinforce the peaceful and calming nature of the story. Dronzek's acrylic illustrations are awash in the colors of bedtime; blues, grays, and purples are accented with subtle white and yellow pops that mimic stars and streetlights. Children's imaginations are at the forefront of the text with the simple question of "Where do _____ sleep?" while the artwork provides realistic renderings of both the animal and its sleeping spot. The final scene, taking up a full spread, creates a feeling of familiarity for children—all of a sleeping girl's toys are gathered on her bed with her. Dronzek's images have given Rowand's text a well-deserved spot on bookshelves and nightstands that currently feature bedtime soothers such as Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon and Deborah Underwood's The Quiet Book (Houghton Harcourt, 2010).—Beth Dobson, Weatherly Heights Elementary School, Huntsville, AL

School Library Journal

★ 2014-03-03
What could be more pleasant than a cozy circle of smiling animals on a starlit night? Beginning with the soft glow of a moonlit house and the soft buttery tone of the facing page, this charming bedtime story sways with a gentle rhythm both aural and visual. Sleepy nighttime scenes in muted tones alternate with individual, fuzzily outlined animals and toys against a background of rich, saturated acrylics. The story will delight children with its predictability, as each page turn raises and answers a question about where each toy sleeps, but the text is anything but pedantic: "Where does a railroad train go at night? / If it is going somewhere, it goes there. / And if it is not, it stands still on the tracks." Rowand's sweetly engaging story invites children to imagine the world at night, and Dronzek's expressive illustrations and effective layout work hand in hand with the text to make this a perfect book to snuggle up with for repeated readings. Everything and everyone finds a safe place to bed down for the night, although young children will likely not be surprised by where they all actually end up sleeping. Fresh illustrations give luminous new life to this reissue of a bedtime story originally published in 1953. (Picture book. 2-5)

Kirkus Reviews