Turn on the Night

A giddy sense of possibility permeates this enchanting wordless story. Valerio (My Book of Birds) opens with an overhead view of more than a dozen homes, clustered in a field of supernaturally green grass underneath an inky night sky. Zooming in brings readers closer to one home, where a dog and chicken sleep outside, and into the bedroom of a girl asleep in her bed, a chicken doll in one arm and a book (this one) in the other. A page turn finds the girl transformed into a giant white wolf that soars out the window and then bounds across the grass. A chicken and a deer join up with the wolf, and together they run, howl at the heavens, and pluck a giant star from the sky, which sets the girl's bedroom aglow with celestial light after the adventure is done. Dwelling in images of sinuous animals, sweeping landscapes, and the sheer joy of running for the sake of running, Valerio's paint and pencil artwork almost vibrates with the idea that not even the sky is the limit in one's dreams. Ages 4-up. (Sept.)

Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 1--A youngster's imagination soars to the stars in this stunningly illustrated wordless picture book. Tucked into bed with a book in one hand and a stuffed chicken in the other, a girl dozes off, transforms into a willowy canine creature, and springs out of the open window for a fanciful adventure. The protagonist is soon joined by two traveling companions--a chicken from the backyard coop and a majestic antlered animal--and all three gleefully bound across the nighttime landscape. Spotting a bright beacon in a twinkle-filled sky, they work together to snatch the star and then return to their starting points, the canine critter leaping back through the window with starburst clasped in mouth. A page turn shows the sleeping girl, her room now star-strewn and aglow with warm light. Featuring lithe, robust animals that stretch across simply drawn backdrops, the acrylic paint and color pencil illustrations are inundated with imagination-empowering possibility. Images of the three figures reoccur in different incarnations (on the cover of a book, on a lampshade, as a weather vane), encouraging readers to flip pages back and forth, seek out details, and construct their own narratives. VERDICT Perfect for one-on-one or small group sharing, this is an eye-pleasing and dream-dazzling delight for bedtime or anytime.--Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

A giddy sense of possibility permeates this enchanting wordless story. — Publishers Weekly, starred review

It is hard to choose a favorite among the illustrations, which use composition, form, and color to full advantage to animate the three animals and spin a magical tale. More than a bedtime story: a treat from a masterful artist. — Kirkus, starred review

This is an eye-pleasing and dream-dazzling delight for bedtime or anytime. — School Library Journal

Valério's illustrations communicate emotion while celebrating the power of imagination and visual storytelling. — International Literacy Association

It's a simple, but magical, plot . . . [Valério] captures with a seeming ease the euphoria of dreams of flight, as well as the cryptic nature of dreams, even ones that leave you with a smile on your face. — Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

Very highly recommended for young readers . . . 'Turn On The Night' is a vibrantly illustrated wordless picture book and a joyous celebration of the inspiration and freedom to be found in stories, dreams and the imagination. — Midwest Book Review