Books at Bedtime: The Longest Night
Tonight, in the northern hemisphere, is the longest night of the year. Especially in those places where winter has gripped the world, the light seems a long time coming – but this is the tipping point. From now on, the day-time will be imperceptibly longer. So Marion Dane Bauer and Ted Lewin’s evocation of a forest world longing for the sun, The Longest Night (Holiday House, 2009), is a perfect bedtime read to snuggle up with at this time of year – and would be a lovely way to introduce the notion of long, cold winter’s nights in those parts of the world that don’t see snow!
While some forest creatures sleep through the winter, those still roaming seek to bring back the sun. The “night-dark” crow, the “mighty” moose and the “clever” fox all believe they are the ones who can do it – but the wind knows otherwise and tells them, to their disgust, that the little chickadee is the only one who can. The chickadee herself finds it hard to believe but she does the only thing she knows how. She sings and sings and wakes the sun: and the longest night is over.
The writing is full of onomatopeia and pleasing wordplay so children will soon know the story off by heart and still want to listen to it again and again: and that will be just fine because the illustrations, as well as the gentle, lilting poetry, are simply stunning! There are wonderful close-ups of the animals, as well as chilly landscapes – the deep, dark blue of the sky reflected in the slightly blue tinge to the snow – then suddenly, at the end, the blaze of light through the trees. Ted Lewin has created an utter feast for the eyes – and I just want to put that cover illustration on my wall and drink it in!
Do read this conversation with Marion and Ted about the book’s creation; and this interview with Marion. KidsLit and TTLG have also reviewed The Longest Night - and TTLG also profiles a non-fiction book called The Winter Solstice that sounds interesting…
