I’ve been a writer all my life in one form or another, and I love to observe the world around me and the people in it. I’ve had a fascination with dusk, in particular, since I was a child. I remember having the most adventurous time playing with my sister and our neighborhood friends after dinner in the summertime and soaking in everything that time of day had to offer—from the beautiful colors of the sunset to the croaking toads to the smell of the freshly cut grass. Each time of day—sunrise to midnight—offers a sensory overload if you are open to it. These books I have recommended dive into that delight.
I love a book that encourages a family to come together and enjoy the simpler things in life like a beautiful starry night, and that is what Blackout by John Rocco does.
The city in this book experiences a blackout at night. Without all the gadgets, TVs, and other distractions, a young kid and his family find their way to enjoy each other and their beautiful city in the pitch dark of night under a blanket of stars. Although my family is very plugged in, we make the effort to unplug now and again, go outside, and enjoy the Texas night sky.
1
author picked
Blackout
as one of their favorite books, and they share
why you should read it.
This book is for kids age
3,
4, and
5.
What is this book about?
One hot summer night in the city, all the power goes out. The TV shuts off and a boy wails, "Mommm!" His sister can no longer use the phone, Mom can't work on her computer, and Dad can't finish cooking dinner. What's a family to do? When they go up to the roof to escape the heat, they find the lights--in stars that can be seen for a change--and so many neighbors it's like a block party in the sky! On the street below, people are having just as much fun--talking, rollerblading, and eating ice cream before it melts. The…
This is the new bedtime book for all, as it perfectly captures the sounds that might happen at night when you are trying to fall asleep in the city.
Families in a red brick building are fast asleep until a baby wakes up crying, and then mayhem ensues with a loud parrot, a game of flashlight tag, and a car alarm set off by a cat. Now that everyone is awake, it’s time to settle back to bed with the more soothing sounds of the night. My family can relate to these city sounds, as they were raised near downtown Austin.
A fresh, urban take on bedtime stories in the spirit of The House That Jack Built and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, from debut author Anne Wynter and Caldecott Honoree Oge Mora.
Everybody in the red brick building was asleep. Until . . .
WaaaAAH!
Rraak! Wake up!
Pitter patter STOMP!
Pssheew!
A chain reaction of noises wakes up several children (and a cat) living in an apartment building. But it's late in the night, so despite the disturbances, one by one, the building's inhabitants return to their beds-this time with a new set of sounds to lull them to sleep.
If the title doesn’t grab your interest, then open the book.
This story focuses on the subtle and simple sounds that you may hear during the beginning of a day. The illustrations evoke all things sunrise and the words match with their lyrical flow and call to action. This book will encourage everyone, even late sleepers like me, to throw off their covers, jump out of bed, and see what the day has to offer.
This beautiful companion to What Color Is Night? helps children explore and celebrate their morning routines.
At the first morning light, everything is quiet. Or is it?
Listen.
Welcome the day by exploring the subtle wonders-and exciting sounds-of the morning with this lyrical and picturesque story.
In the first morning light, all might seem quiet. In this companion to What Color Is Night?
Grant Snider explores the sounds-and silences-of morning. Ending in an
inspiring call to action-to toss off the covers, throw open the window,
and fill the world with your song-this uplifting book is sure to help
families feel…
In this wordless picture book, a young child comes out of his tent to find his boot all with the help of a trusty flashlight.
Then he begins to explore the wilderness at night, shining his flashlight on various animals and plants. It’s like another world is revealed. This story is playful and full of opportunities to seek and find all the amazing nocturnal creatures that enjoy the cover of darkness. At our current home, we have lots of nocturnal animals lurking around. Time to get out the flashlight!
Inside a tent it's cozy. But what is going on outside? Is it dark? Is it scary? Not if you have your trusty flashlight! Told solely through images and using a spare yet dramatic palette, artist Lizi Boyd has crafted a masterful exploration of night, nature, and art. Both lyrical and humorous, this visual poem-like the flashlight beam itself-reveals that there is magic in the darkness. We just have to look for it.
From the minute you open this book, you feel steamy hot like the sun is sitting right on your shoulder staring you blankly in the eye.
It’s midday in a busy downtown, and a weiner dog and his owner want to escape the inescapable heat, so they do. They run off to spend the day at the beach. When they come back to the bustling metropolis, it’s calmer and cooler as the sun fades away to night. I loved this exploration of a hot day, as I’ve experienced more than my fair share of them as a Texas girl.
4
authors picked
Hot Dog
as one of their favorite books, and they share
why you should read it.
This book is for kids age
4,
5,
6, and
7.
What is this book about?
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • WINNER OF THE 2023 CALDECOTT MEDAL • This glowing and playful picture book features an overheated—and overwhelmed—pup who finds his calm with some sea, sand, and fresh air. Destined to become a classic!
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post • Publishers Weekly • Kirkus Reviews • New York Public Library
“An utter joy from beginning to end!” —Sophie Blackall, two-time Caldecott Medal winner
This hot dog has had enough of summer in the city! Enough of sizzling sidewalks, enough of wailing sirens, enough of people's feet right in…
The search is on for tree climbers, firefly catchers, and hide-and-seekers to steal away to the outside world as dusk falls to night.These explorers play, laugh, and make the most of their own front yards right up until their parents call out that "It's time to come home!" But when the sun begins to set, tomorrow they'll be back for more evening excitement! This ode to the timeless magic of summer evenings spent outside will remind kids of the fun and friends that wait just outside their doors and leave adults smiling with nostalgia for their own dusk explorations.
