Review: What Color Is Night? by Grant Snider

WHAT COLOR IS NIGHT?

by Grant Snider

Chronicle Books

Picture Book

44 pages

ages 2 to 4

Look closer. Grant Snider's beautiful debut picture book explores the wonders—and colors—of nighttime. For night is not just black and white. Ending in colors yet unseen, and a night of sweet dreams, this lilting lullaby is sure to comfort those drifting off to sleep. With luminous art as spare and glowing as the moon, and lyrical text that reads like a friend leading the way through the wilderness, What Color Is Night? is a rich and timeless look at a topic of endless fascination, and a perfect bedtime read-aloud.

 MY TIDBITS

The dark of night gains a magical rainbow of surprises in a beautiful and poetic way, which is sure to invite dreams and ease to sleep.

Night is often compared to darkness with the stars and moon above. These colors might be referred to as simply black and white. But in these pages, young listeners are invited to look closer. Soon, the black sky isn't so black after all, and the lights of night offer so many more tones than simple white. 

This is such a gentle and enchanting book. It takes the wonder of night and quietly guides listeners through towns, over hills and to the stars above, making it perfect for a goodnight read. The scenes are calm as they illustrate familiar sights. House windows and car lights or even the eyes of passing animals...each holds more color than one might assume. 

The writing is almost like a lullaby, and the text is easy to understand. It reads smoothly and is short enough to make the point without steering out of a soothing tone.  While older readers might find it a bit simple, the intended audience, ages 2 to 4, will feel right at home. 

And here he is...

Grant Snider is an orthodontist by day and an author and artist of comics and picture books by night. He lives in Wichita, Kansas.