7/17/2022 Picture Book Round Up: Seize the Night
- Sasha Wallace
- Jul 16, 2022
- 2 min read
We hear a lot about Carpe diem (seize the day). But just as important is Carpe noctem (seize the night).
With all the buzz about the amazing clarity of the James Webb Space Telescope, more than ever, we are looking to the night sky for answers, solace, inspiration, & simple beauty. What else is out there? You’ll never know if you don’t lace up your sneakers & make the trek.
The book below captures this sentiment flawlessly. I am completely enamored of it. I hope you will be, too. Maybe it’ll convince you to forgive me for not posting while on honeymoon in the Pacific Northwest last weekend. Then, too, I looked at the sky & felt a comfort enveloping me. Was it the fact that the mountains made me feel closer to it? Or was it just the thrill of being outdoors in the darkness? Our natural instinct is to seek the light, but I promise that the world of shadows is just as compelling & welcomes travelers who respect it.
Picture Book 1
Title: The Night Walk
Author & Illustrator: Marie Dorléans
Recommended for: Grades K-3
Basic plot: Quite simply, a family of four leaves their house in the dead of night & hikes through the sleeping natural world. By the book’s end, they’ve ensconced themselves on a perfect hilltop to view the coming sunrise.
Why I love it: The imagery alone is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The illustrator uses a very singular toned palette, yet the bruise scheme works for her. Her light moments are thus as striking as a lemon on black construction paper. The story itself is timeless – yet there is something very rare about it, since it is quite uncommon for families to go on midnight walks unless there’s a meteor shower or it’s Halloween. It’s risky doing something that is hard to relate to, but for those of us who have fond memories of such an undertaking, what a blast from the past.
Where can you find it? Amazon, eBay, AbeBooks, Thriftbooks (cheapest $7.17 & up, used).
Extension activity: If you live in a safe area, get some flashlights & go on a walk of your own, timing it to see the local sunrise. A sunrise chart can be accessed here:
It may also be a fun association game to discuss what interesting natural events happen at night, such as blooming cacti or dancing fireflies, etc. This can be expanded to manmade occurrences, like driving around the neighborhood to see Christmas lights.
Lastly, I suggest a visit to the nearest planetarium/ observatory to learn more about astronomy. Whether they are used to determine horoscopes, immortalize Greco-Roman myths, or help sailors navigate, stars have been an important fixture (& paradox) for several millennia, so it is beneficial to teach their importance & appeal at a young age.
This is a handy website for beginners hoping to learn about these celestial bodies:
The next time someone tells you to reach for the stars, I dare you to shrug & say, “Sure, Proxima Centauri isn’t that far.”
Thanks for tuning in! Keep the pages turning until we meet again.
Love,
Sash
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