A few months ago, I was shelving new books and came across a picture book that I couldn’t put down. The book is called “The Night World,” and is written and illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein. The story starts when a cat named Sylvie wakes her boy. Sylvie says she needs to go out even though everyone else is asleep. Soon she is insisting that “It’s coming…hurry,” and the boy must come outside with her.
The boy then explores the darkness of the yard, where everything looks different than it does in the daytime. The illustrations start off with grays, browns, and black, but as the story progresses, the reader sees hints of color starting to emerge. The illustrations become more and more vibrant as the sun rises, erasing the night world completely.
I reread “The Night World” several times in a row, spotting something new every time. This book is a great bedtime story, and it’s a wonderful conversation starter about night, day, and everything in between.
Love this book as much as I do? Check out more of Mordicai Gerstein’s books.
