Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
1st out of 16 books
—
5 voters
Nighttime Ninja
by
Barbara DaCosta (Goodreads Author),
Ed Young
Late at night, when all is quiet and everyone is asleep, a ninja creeps silently through the house in search of treasure. Soon he reaches his ultimate goal...and gets a big surprise! Will the nighttime ninja complete his mission?
With spare text and lush illustrations, Nighttime Ninja is a fun, adventure-filled story about the power of play and imagination.
With spare text and lush illustrations, Nighttime Ninja is a fun, adventure-filled story about the power of play and imagination.
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
September 18th 2012
by Little, Brown
(first published September 1st 2012)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
595)
In the dark of the night the ninja creeps and climbs, crawls and leaps through the house. Everyone is asleep as he slips from shadow to shadow. As he takes up his tools to work, the lights flash on and his mother appears! Even though the ninja protests that he hasn’t finished his (ice cream eating) mission, his mother has another idea, “Well, how about a getting-back-into-bed mission?”
The sparse text has a suspenseful feeling and readers will think they are reading a story about a real ninja rig...more
The sparse text has a suspenseful feeling and readers will think they are reading a story about a real ninja rig...more
The text itself is sparse and is somewhat eclipsed. The mixed-media illustrations in this book are true stars, quickly capturing the attention with a thrilling adventure. Perhaps the merest bit too cluttered, they illustrate the protagonist as a sleek ninja all in black, who scales walls with grappling hooks and creeps into compounds. The story seems to pick up mid-adventure, an unusual and refreshing beginning to a picture book, where the concept of "once upon a time" seems to more firmly hold...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
A young ninja goes on a mission at midnight. Pages of illustrations show how he climbs, sneaks and moves toward his target. Then he gets out his tools…and the lights turn on. His mom catches him eating a midnight snack and sends him back to bed.
The story is simple and concise…just like a ninja’s moves. The illustrations are great. The shadow of a ninja goes over brilliant textures and shapes. I especially like the ninja’s silhouette over the full moon with the bamboo leaves in the foreground. An...more
The story is simple and concise…just like a ninja’s moves. The illustrations are great. The shadow of a ninja goes over brilliant textures and shapes. I especially like the ninja’s silhouette over the full moon with the bamboo leaves in the foreground. An...more
A Publisher's Weekly Best Book of 2012.
Caldecott contender? (Yes! - Ed Young wrote and illustrated "The House Babba Built.")
"Nighttime Ninja," written by Barbara DaCosta and illustrated by Ed Young, is the story of a nighttime ninja on a mission. Both he and the reader get surprises in this book. The text is sparse here so the beautiful illustrations ("done in cut paper, textured cloth, string, and colored pencil") tell as much of the story as the text. Both author and illustrator do a nice job...more
Caldecott contender? (Yes! - Ed Young wrote and illustrated "The House Babba Built.")
"Nighttime Ninja," written by Barbara DaCosta and illustrated by Ed Young, is the story of a nighttime ninja on a mission. Both he and the reader get surprises in this book. The text is sparse here so the beautiful illustrations ("done in cut paper, textured cloth, string, and colored pencil") tell as much of the story as the text. Both author and illustrator do a nice job...more
My 1st grade students love ninjas! So when I told them we were going to preview a book together about ninjas, they went crazy! We went through "ninjas" with a fine tooth comb. We talked about the super cool cover and the stealthy ninja moves on the end pages. We talked about the author's intent in having some pages with text and others without. They really liked Nighttime Ninja but I think they wanted more. It's not the author's fault. She has created this book as a bedtime story..not necessaril...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Love, love, love Ed Young's artwork for this book. It's just wonderful... and fun. The colors are are striking, his work sometimes kid-simple, and at other times intricate and subtle. And it combines with Barbara DaCosta's terse text to make for a boy-friendly bedtime read.
Not that adventure-girls! won't love it too, but it's a book with an undercurrent of sneaking craftiness as a trip to the kitchen is disguised as a ninja mission.
Good fun. It's nice to have a beautiful book that can be used a...more
Not that adventure-girls! won't love it too, but it's a book with an undercurrent of sneaking craftiness as a trip to the kitchen is disguised as a ninja mission.
Good fun. It's nice to have a beautiful book that can be used a...more
It is nighttime. Everyone is asleep. Suddenly, a black figure appears. It is Nighttime Ninja. He is on a secret mission, creeping through the house, in search of….And then, just as suddenly, the lights flash on, and Nighttime Ninja is…caught! Caught by his mother. His cup of hot chocolate is confiscated. Nighttime Ninja is sent back to bed.
Wonderful cut paper illustrations by cut paper master Ed Young. A lovely mysterious story that all little ninjas will love.
Thank you to Little Brown for this...more
Wonderful cut paper illustrations by cut paper master Ed Young. A lovely mysterious story that all little ninjas will love.
Thank you to Little Brown for this...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
A ninja quietly (of course) slinks through a house on a mission. That mission ends abruptly, though, when the lights come on--he's caught!
I read this one because I have boys asking me for ninja books in the library every other week or so. SPOILER: Turns out, the ninja is just a kid sneaking through his house to get a late-night snack, and his captor is his mother. This fact will turn this book into one big bummer for kids who are really into ninjas, but it will make a satisfying ending for young...more
I read this one because I have boys asking me for ninja books in the library every other week or so. SPOILER: Turns out, the ninja is just a kid sneaking through his house to get a late-night snack, and his captor is his mother. This fact will turn this book into one big bummer for kids who are really into ninjas, but it will make a satisfying ending for young...more
Sam (8): If my child really got that far, then I would just let him have all the ice cream he wanted!
Mary (6): I liked how it was super funny when it was all like, "He took out his tools." It looked like he was a real ninja at first, but then you saw that it was just a spoon.
Dave (older): This was a cute book. My kids love ninjas, dress up, and ice cream, so this book had a little bit of all their favorite things.
Mary (6): I liked how it was super funny when it was all like, "He took out his tools." It looked like he was a real ninja at first, but then you saw that it was just a spoon.
Dave (older): This was a cute book. My kids love ninjas, dress up, and ice cream, so this book had a little bit of all their favorite things.
This book sucked me in with beautiful cut-paper illustrations that little Ninja lovers would be intrigued by. At midnight the ninja sends his grappling hook through the sky and catches on the roof of a building. The pictures tell most of the story, still the sparse words keep the tension high. Follow the Ninja through a building trying to accomplish his mission. Unfortunately, while there was a sweet resolution to the build up of tension in the story I found the ending a bit abrupt for my taste.
Ed Young's art makes this a four-star picture book. The story is okay, if a bit predictable. But I really enjoyed the illustrations, which were done using cut paper, textured cloth, string, and colored pencil. This gave the book an exotic feel. Each page is interesting to look at.
I also had to smile at the memory of my own "nighttime ninja" adventures as a kid, even though I would have had no idea what a "ninja" was at that age.
Good fun.
I also had to smile at the memory of my own "nighttime ninja" adventures as a kid, even though I would have had no idea what a "ninja" was at that age.
Good fun.
Mar 20, 2013
Melanie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
children-s-literature,
picture-book,
ninjas,
bedtime,
mothers-sons,
parent-child,
night,
imagination
It's late and all should be in bed. But there is one who is creeping through the house: A ninja! This ninja is on a mission; a mission in the kitchen! Sneaky, sneaky through the house...
CAUGHT! On goes the light and our ninja is caught with the ice cream! Sent back to bed by his mother, our ninja sleeps until it's time for another mission.
Very visual. Several pages without words.
CAUGHT! On goes the light and our ninja is caught with the ice cream! Sent back to bed by his mother, our ninja sleeps until it's time for another mission.
Very visual. Several pages without words.
The clock strikes midnight and nighttime ninja is on the prowl. Until mom catches him and sends him back to bed that is. I love picture books that are different and the illustrations in this one are very unique. I really enjoy the cut paper illustrations. I think kids will be fascinated with them and maybe even try and recreate the story or create their own.
When you hold this book you feel that you are holding an art treasure, and you are. It is an utterly beautiful book with lush, rich artwork throughout. The story is compelling, with a strong arc and a surprise ending. You're child will want you to read it over and over and you will enjoy doing so. A great gift!
I had the privilege to see a printers proof.
I had the privilege to see a printers proof.
Cute papercut illustrations -- very minimal text (would be a short one for story time, there's a lot of wordless pages), but would be a cute short book for a story time interlude. I'm glad there's more ninja books being published -- I have some small patrons who have read EVERY ninja picture book a thousand times, so it's good to see a new one.
1 like · like · see review
view 1 comment
Beautiful and subtle. I liked it, but I suspect little boys who love ninjas might be a little disappointed. I have a feeling this is one of those books that parents, teachers and librarians love but kids are not so crazy about. I will have to test this theory on my five-year old and I promise to amend the review if I am proven incorrect.
Beautifully written, sparse text. Gorgeous illustrations. I just wish there was more to it! There are a few pages with no words and illustrations that don't add much to the story. Perhaps some clever creative activities for kids like explaining how to do cut paper would have been a better use of space.
Part of me is bummed because I had an idea for a kid's book I was certain was original and would be a best-seller and I could retire. Then I found this book and realized someone beat me to the (ninja-trained) punch.
Sour grapes aside: a fun quick book with great artwork.
Sour grapes aside: a fun quick book with great artwork.
Nighttime ninja is on a mission and he must use all his skills: scaling walls, creeping along the floor, balancing, swinging through the air. Will he complete his mission? Very cute and fun, with a twist ending. I would love to read this at preschool storytime.
Late at night, when everyone is fast asleep, a young ninja creeps through the house in search of treasure.
Ed Young's striking artwork--bold, primary-hued collages of cut paper, textured fabric, string, and colored pencil--takes this simple story to a whole new level.
Ed Young's striking artwork--bold, primary-hued collages of cut paper, textured fabric, string, and colored pencil--takes this simple story to a whole new level.
I picked this up for Liam because I thought he might like it. I had no idea that it was illustrated by the awesome Ed Young, whose cut paper, textured cloth, string and colored pictures illustrations were truly amazing. While the book was a little too nuanced for my son, it is a fun look into a young ninja's mission training, that is until he is interrupted by his mom and sent back to bed. Recommended for ages 4-7, 4 stars.
Loved it. The story of a child sneaking out at bedtime is good,but what makes the book is Ed Young's art that makes this not your typical bedtime story. You believe in the nighttime ninja and the ninja's secret mission. Perfect for young ninjas!
Jan 20, 2013
Kathy Ellen Davis
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
31-in-31-all-picture-books,
picture-books
Fun little book.
Who is the ninja?
What does he want?
Amazing illustrations too.
I could see children wanting this book read over and OVER again!
Haiku Review:
In the dark of night
the ninja sneaks with one goal:
complete his mission.
Who is the ninja?
What does he want?
Amazing illustrations too.
I could see children wanting this book read over and OVER again!
Haiku Review:
In the dark of night
the ninja sneaks with one goal:
complete his mission.
I love Ed Young's illustrations! This is a great story for night-time and for imagination. There's an excellent contrast in the pictures between how the ninja sees himself, and what happens when his mom wakes up and finds him sneaking.
Oh, no! Another bedtime book? [Hi, Lu!]
Ed Young needs to brush up on his ninja skills--he has the ninja pass right in front of a full moon and later leaves another giant shadow. Even pretend ninjas know what stealth is!
Ed Young needs to brush up on his ninja skills--he has the ninja pass right in front of a full moon and later leaves another giant shadow. Even pretend ninjas know what stealth is!
Sparse text and lush illustrations this book explores the fun and adventure of play and imagination. Finally, a book with a ninja that isn't poor quality and mass produced to make money off of a fad. Highly recommended.
(Preschool - 2) I'd actually like to give this 3.5 stars. Cute book for all the kids that pretend they're ninjas. Simple words describe the action of a dark figure breaking into a house. Suddenly, the lights turn on and...
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vote for Nighttime Ninja! | 1 | 1 | Apr 17, 2013 09:56am | |
| Introducing Nighttime NInja | 2 | 3 | Dec 23, 2012 07:31pm |
From lighthearted children's books to adult mysteries, Barbara DaCosta enjoys looking at the odd, quirky things in life. DaCosta's debut children's picture book is
Nighttime Ninja,
illustrated by Caldecott Award-winner Ed Young (Little, Brown 2012). DaCosta's short stories for grownups have been featured in such places as
Resort to Murder
and
Why Did Santa Leave a Body?
More about Barbara DaCosta...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
