Today's read... Dark on Light by Dianne White

The days are growing longer as the temperatures climb just a little bit. Luckily, nights are still cool, but soon, we'll be spending time gazing at the wonders those evening hours hold (I'm thinking tree bats, owls, fireflies). So, today's read caught my attention. We have an entire row of flashlights lined along a tiny shelf above our potato/onion bin for sudden night excursions like the one on the cover. Okay, usually ours involve finishing up almost forgotten farm chores, but it's still a treat even then... yes, I might actually enjoy forgetting those chores and running out after dark because then, I take a moment to gaze at the stars, hear the insects, and have even seen baby skunks scurrying by (but with distance!)

Enough of my rambling! Let's dive right in...

DARK ON LIGHT

by Dianne White

Illustrated by Felicita Sala

Beach Lane Books

Picture Book 48 pages

ages 4 to 8

As the sun sets, three siblings discover nature’s nighttime beauty in this soothingly rhythmic and gorgeously illustrated bedtime picture book from the acclaimed author-illustrator team behind Green on Green.

Gentle the evening. Sweeping the skies.
Dark the shadows as twilight arrives.
Rose the horizon, gleaming and bright.
Twilight and evening and dark on light.

When the family dog trots away from the house at sunset, three siblings tumble out the door to go find him. Soon they find themselves immersed in the luminous colors, shades, and shadows of nature at night—both dark and light. They wander through moonlit lavender meadows, past a timid fawn, beneath a snowy white owl, and much, much more as the night deepens until, at last, they find their sneaky pup.

With beautiful illustrations by Felicita Sala and lyrical text by Dianne White that’s perfect for reading aloud, this book invites young readers to step into the wondrous, colorful nighttime natural world.

GOODREADS   /   B&N   /   AMAZON   /   BOOK DEPOSITORY

MY TIDBITS

The darkness of night unfolds into the scene of a small adventure and invites as a bedtime read.

When the family dog wanders off in the evening and the three children can't find him anywhere, they grab a flashlight and head out to find him. But the puppy isn't the only thing they discover as nature settles into nighttime.

This book is written with lovely, poetic form, which flows smoothly and invites to lean back and enjoy the verbal scenes. Each phrase only holds a few words, and the author has made sure to keep the vocabulary very age appropriate. It's beautifully woven (as in adults will enjoy the poetry) without alienating young listeners.

The illustrations are cleverly done. Not only are these also well-done from the plain, artistic stand-point (and beautiful), but they take care to show that nighttime doesn't mean black and white. Instead, shades and colors fitting to the scenes create a natural and inviting atmosphere. This makes nighttime more inviting and awakens curiosity. There are animals and surprises hidden here and there as the single beam from the flashlight lightens up areas here and there. I would have wished there was more going on as some moments rang a little monotone, but this does invite to calming down and heading into those sleepy hours.

This is a lovely bedtime read, which relaxes, calms fears of the dark, and might have young listeners wanting to head out on their own nighttime adventure soon.

And here they are...

Dianne White lives in Gilbert, Arizona, with her family. She is the author of Who Eats Orange?, Blue on Blue, Green on Green, and Dark on Light

Felicita Sala is a self-taught illustrator and painter. She has a degree in philosophy from the University of Western Australia. She now lives and works in Rome. She draws inspiration from nature, children, mid-century illustration, folk art, and architecture.

Review: Winter Lullaby by Dianne White

Since today's 1st review is right on the borderline for a 'kidlit' read (YA), I'm adding another one for the youngest readers. Yep, from one end to the other! The cover was so comforting to look at, and with that cute pair of bears, I was looking forward to seeing what this one holds.

This isn't a Christmas read, and I did promise to have pure Christmas reads on here until the 25th, but the winter landscape and nature's winter sleep fit the peaceful calm enough that I thought I could slide it in.

Ready to walk through a winter wonderland with me? 

WINTER LULLABY

by Dianne White

Illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki

Candlewick Press

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

Rendered with reassuring words and pastoral scenes, this soothing lullaby of a story is sure to settle even the most restless of cubs.

Mouse is rushing to her nest.
In soft, dry grasses she will rest.

Geese are calling, a chilly wind is blowing, and the sky is turning gray. Winter is on its way. For Mama Bear and Small Bear, that means it’s time to tuck into their den for a long sleep. But Mouse is scurrying by, and Chipmunk is still gathering nuts beside the lake. And look at Hare and Skunk, still romping through the leaves! Why can’t Small Bear stay up, too? To each question, Mama Bear responds with the coziest of answers, finally painting a dreamy picture of the brightening colors and new adventures that will greet Small Bear in the spring. But first comes sleep, in this irresistible invitation to drowsy little cubs everywhere.

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON   /    BOOK DEPOSITORY    /   B&N

MY TIDBITS

Nature's peace, serenity, and calmness flow from every page and invite to snuggled dreams.

It's time to go into hibernation as the cold days approach, but little bear isn't so sure he's ready, yet. As mommy bear and little bear head toward their den, the little bear asks about the various animals, hoping that one will stay up...so he can, too. 

This is a beautifully created book, which looks at nature's slumber during the cold, white days. The text is kept short and sweet, and still flows with a poetic rhyme very fitting to the atmosphere of the book. Each scene invites with a lovely calm and serenity, which makes it fun just to flip through and gaze at each one.

Various animals are introduced as little bear heads through the forest, and with few words, it's shown what each one does and where they hibernate. It's very educational and captures everything with a true-to-life impression. Still, little bear's excitement is hard to miss and keeps everything a little light-hearted, too.

As a goodnight read, this one is fits as well. After watching each animal snuggle into their burrows, the bears do the same. A secure warmth with family love is portrayed and sets the scene for sweet dreams.

And here they are...

Dianne White is the author of Green on Green, Goodbye Brings Hello, Sometimes a Wall, and many other picture books. As a child, she loved reading books, playing music, and learning new languages. Years later, as a teacher, all three favorites followed her into the classroom. By day, she read great books, sang, and even taught kids who were learning English for the first time. At night, she worked on picture books. Today, she's delighted to be writing full-time, while enjoying life in sunshiny Arizona.

Ramona Kaulitzki has always spent her days doing something creative, but her biggest passions are drawing and storytelling. She loves to create little characters and breathe life into them, imagining their stories and the world they might live in. When she’s not illustrating, she can be found somewhere outdoors or at the riding stable. Her great love for animals and nature is a major inspiration for her work. Ramona Kaulitzki is based in Germany.