I just finished reading The Way Home in the Night by Akiko Miyakoshi (Kids Can Press; April 4, 2017), originally Yoru no Kaerimichi (Kaisei-Sha
Publishing, 2015). This book caught my eye because of its bunny (one of my favorite animals!) main character and its Japanese author-illustrator. Of course
I had to read it. This isn’t a cute, cuddly, fluffy bunny though. This bunny
and the other animal characters rendered in pencil, charcoal, and acrylic
gouache are surreal – even reminding me a bit of the Twilight Zone – but the
effect is beautiful.
The bunny is observing his neighbors as he walks home with his parents at the end of the day. There’s a bookseller closing his shop for the night, a neighbor watching TV, a party next door, and more. When he’s tucked into bed, he wonders about his neighbors: Is the bookseller reading on his couch? Are the party guests saying goodbye? Are his neighbors getting ready for bed, or already snug in bed like him? It’s a different take on the bedtime book, which usually shows children winding down already at home or in their bedroom. This beautiful book lulls us with a strikingly simple story that starts on the streets outside and in neighbors’ houses.
The bunny is observing his neighbors as he walks home with his parents at the end of the day. There’s a bookseller closing his shop for the night, a neighbor watching TV, a party next door, and more. When he’s tucked into bed, he wonders about his neighbors: Is the bookseller reading on his couch? Are the party guests saying goodbye? Are his neighbors getting ready for bed, or already snug in bed like him? It’s a different take on the bedtime book, which usually shows children winding down already at home or in their bedroom. This beautiful book lulls us with a strikingly simple story that starts on the streets outside and in neighbors’ houses.
I loved this too!
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