Review Detail

DARK ON LIGHT is a lyrical book about the majesty of night. The book is written in a poem of phrases as children make a journey through the night and the woods all the way back home and into bed.

What I loved: This is a soft and lyrical book that brings the children through the night and nature all the way back to their beds for sleep. With the short phrases and repeated refrains, it has a great and soothing rhythm, which is great for bedtime reads. The muted colors and dark imagery also work well for nighttime, and the font is written clearly throughout to compliment the scheme but keep it readable even in low light.

What left me wanting more: As a small thing, the plot will not be very clear for the youngest readers who will be enjoying this book. The poem does not give the plot away, and the synopsis summarizes and explains it more than the story does (such as that the children are going out after their dog), which is tough for this young audience, who needs things a bit clearer and more explained.

Final verdict: DARK ON LIGHT is a lush and lyrical story that celebrates night and nature. This picture book will work well for preschoolers and elementary school aged readers.