Winner of the 2009 Caldecott Medal! A spare, patterned text and glowing pictures explore the origins of light that make a house a home in this b... read full description
reviews
Mar 24, 2009
Chandra
rated it: 
This 2009 Caldecott Medal winner really is a classic in the making and my real regret is that this wasn't around when my daughter was a baby! This book is a sophisticated alternative to Goodnight Moon - good news for all you haters out there ;-)
I've never encountered anything like the illustrations in this book and, simply put, I love them! I've since learned this style is called scratchboard art, but I have a feeling that illustrator Beth Krommes broke the mold with this one. The More...
I've never encountered anything like the illustrations in this book and, simply put, I love them! I've since learned this style is called scratchboard art, but I have a feeling that illustrator Beth Krommes broke the mold with this one. The More...
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Mar 30, 2009
Kathryn
rated it: 
An enchanting story, full of beautiful simplicity and the type of circular storytelling that I loved as a child. The Caldecott-winning, scratchboard art illustrations are what really won me over, though. They are exquisite, intricate, unique and breathtaking! Amazing how such "dark" illustrations can radiate warmth and light--you'll feel the bright yellows glow right into your heart!
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Feb 13, 2009
Jackie "the Librarian"
rated it:
This gorgeous Caldecott winner deserved the medal for the scratchboard illustrations in black, white, and yellow. Beautiful in their simplicity, they take the reader on a nighttime fantasy flight on the back of a bird, a bird from the book on the bed, in the house unlocked by the key, under the light of the moon.
It's the sort of book you want to look at again and again. Just lovely!
It's the sort of book you want to look at again and again. Just lovely!
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Feb 09, 2009
Toby
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Beginning with the bright yellow letters of the title and the bright yellow end papers, the reader's eye is drawn to ordinary objects: a key, a dog collar, a flower, amid the intricate black and white scratchboard illustrations. The light suggests comfort and safety as the world darkens to night and a little girl begins to read her book.
At this point however, the realistic story adds a magical element as the young protagonist flies out the window, teddy bear in hand, to explore he More...
At this point however, the realistic story adds a magical element as the young protagonist flies out the window, teddy bear in hand, to explore he More...
May 30, 2008
Elizabeth
rated it:
Sometimes, just sometimes, you want to read a beautiful picture book. Not a pretty picture book or a mildly lovely one or a picture book that will please you the first ten times you read it to a child and then hardly anymore after that. No, I'm talking about a jaw-dropping, kick-you-in-the-pants, douse your cigar hussy of a beautiful picture book. The kind that works against your book-loving instincts, tempting you to rip out the pages and frame them on your wall. That kind of book. The first ti
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May 13, 2008
Tasha
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This cumulative tale follows the pattern of nursery rhymes, naming common objects in a bedtime house. Open the door with the key, move into the warm glow of the lamp, discover the book on the bed, and away you fly. Out you go, into the night where the stars shine, filling the night sky with their glow and the moon beams upon you.
This book exudes warmth, comfort and blessings. The images done in black and white primarily are given beacons of warmth through the use of yellow. Done i More...
This book exudes warmth, comfort and blessings. The images done in black and white primarily are given beacons of warmth through the use of yellow. Done i More...
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Jun 20, 2008
Roxanne Hsu
rated it:
This one has a classic look and a classic feel -- from its scratch board, 3-colored (black, white, yellow) illustrations to its minimalistic and poetic text -- a great addition to bedtime lullaby stories. This one doesn't make me say, "Who needs another bedtime story? Don't we have ENOUGH?" Obviously, we don't since talented writers and artists like Swanson and Krommes still have new things to offer for new generations of children and their parents. The pictures are worthy of looki
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Jan 02, 2009
Jess
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I'm a sucker for this style of illustrations - it feels cozy and old-timey and perfect for a bedtime story, and it works well with the patterned structure of the story. I like the use of limited colors, so that the yellowy-orange really glows in the pictures and the text.
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Feb 06, 2009
Becky
rated it:
2009 Caldecott winner for illustration. I must admit...with some shame...that I didn't read it until it won, and then my expectations were so high that I was a little underwhelmed. After reading the many glowing professional reviews, I'm applying my most open mind. I did like the quiet simplicity of the text, and the "classic" feel of the whole thing: the cumulative rhyme hearkens back to pieces like "The House That Jack Built"; the scratchboard illustrations are quite folksy
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Dec 06, 2011
Ashley
rated it:
1. Elements of fantasy, (dream-like scene) but bill place in the "other" category
2. The house in the night is a comfy place, but what secrets does it hold? Enter into this house and journey out into the night in this boldly illustrated tale of light.
3. Critique
a. The simple text invites the reader to focus on the illustrations. The bright and bold images contrast beautifully with the simple color use (only three colors, black, white and yellow).
b. This book's b More...
2. The house in the night is a comfy place, but what secrets does it hold? Enter into this house and journey out into the night in this boldly illustrated tale of light.
3. Critique
a. The simple text invites the reader to focus on the illustrations. The bright and bold images contrast beautifully with the simple color use (only three colors, black, white and yellow).
b. This book's b More...
Oct 13, 2011
Amanda
rated it: 
Genre: Picture book—Other or Controlled Vocabulary
Summary: This book shows young readers the reassurance of nighttime through a repetitive story about a house, like those of the readers.
Critique:
a. This book has two strengths, its illustrations and also the repetition of the story.
b. The 2009 Caldecott winner book shows readers wonderful black and white illustrations with a burst of yellow color throughout. This helps readers understand the setting of the bo More...
Summary: This book shows young readers the reassurance of nighttime through a repetitive story about a house, like those of the readers.
Critique:
a. This book has two strengths, its illustrations and also the repetition of the story.
b. The 2009 Caldecott winner book shows readers wonderful black and white illustrations with a burst of yellow color throughout. This helps readers understand the setting of the bo More...
Sep 27, 2011
Melissa
rated it:
The House in the Night
By Susan Marie Swanson
Pictures by Beth Krommes
Genre: Controlled Vocabulary
The House in the Night is a fun little story that repeats vocabulary and concept of the relationship between the key, the house, the light, the bed, the moon, the sun and so on.
Critique:
A. While this was not one of my favorite stories, it has earned the Caldecott Medal and must have some importance to win the honor. The repetition of the words is easy for More...
By Susan Marie Swanson
Pictures by Beth Krommes
Genre: Controlled Vocabulary
The House in the Night is a fun little story that repeats vocabulary and concept of the relationship between the key, the house, the light, the bed, the moon, the sun and so on.
Critique:
A. While this was not one of my favorite stories, it has earned the Caldecott Medal and must have some importance to win the honor. The repetition of the words is easy for More...
Sep 08, 2011
Katlyn
rated it:
1. Genre: Controlled Vocabulary-The book has few words with many repeating words or lines.
2. Summary: The House in the Night is a great book for bedtime stories. The sleepy, yet beautiful black and yellow illustrations offer the reader with a scenic nighttime view. The circular text style takes the reader on a journey through a nursery rhyme type story which is revealed in the back of the book
3. Critique:
a. The aspect of this book I love most is hard to pick—the illustrations More...
2. Summary: The House in the Night is a great book for bedtime stories. The sleepy, yet beautiful black and yellow illustrations offer the reader with a scenic nighttime view. The circular text style takes the reader on a journey through a nursery rhyme type story which is revealed in the back of the book
3. Critique:
a. The aspect of this book I love most is hard to pick—the illustrations More...
Jun 06, 2010
Nancy
rated it:
In Marie Susan Swanson's The House in the Night, we learn about a house with a light burning inside. Inside the house is a child reading the book. As they read the book, they fall into the story and experience a world of stars and light, before returning back to the house in the night. The illustrations of this story are done in simple black and white with touches of yellow to illustrate objects like stars and lights. The illustrator creates depth with it's limited color scheme by incorporating
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Oct 08, 2009
NS-Lisa
rated it:
The House in the Night, by Susan Marie Swanson, is comforting book that any child would enjoy as a bedtime story. In this story, Swanson names various nighttime objects that can be found around a house; such as a bed and a book. The main character, a little girl, explores objects in her house as she is preparing to go to bed. Children will be able to relate to her as she puts on her pajamas, reads a book, and is tucked in by her mother. While there are minimal words in the story, the reader
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May 17, 2009
Lindsey
rated it:
Based off of a beloved children’s book or yore called “This is the Key of the Kingdom” in which the same cyclical nature of the narrative takes place, Swanson seeks to replicate the way the story looks and feels with her own book as well as expound upon it. The book starts out by stating simply, “Here is the key to the house,” and builds from there. There is no rhyming, as is typical of poetry directed at this age group, but despite that, there is a poetic quality to the writing. The book begins
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Oct 08, 2009
(NS) Brea M
rated it:
Susan Marie Swanson writes The House in the Night which is inspired by the nursery rhyme beginning, “This is the key of the kingdom”. The book begins with a young girl receiving a golden key to a house. Each page adds another piece that is within the page before. For example, “In the house burns a light… In that light rests a bed. The text continues simply as the girl opens a book with a bird inside and ends up taking a ride on that bird’s back through the sky. She encounters the starry da
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Sep 30, 2009
Amanda
rated it:
The house in the night
Summary: This book is about things in and surrounding a house during the night. The text has one line per page and the story circles from the beginning to the end. Each item that is identified is then used on the next page so that all of the pages connect to each other. The illustrations are of black and white except for the shinning objects that are show in gold. This is a book that is perfect for bedtime reading for young readers.
Reflection: The House in More...
Summary: This book is about things in and surrounding a house during the night. The text has one line per page and the story circles from the beginning to the end. Each item that is identified is then used on the next page so that all of the pages connect to each other. The illustrations are of black and white except for the shinning objects that are show in gold. This is a book that is perfect for bedtime reading for young readers.
Reflection: The House in More...
Jul 08, 2008
Bethany
rated it:
The House in the Night is a cumulative book about a bird in a book in a house in the night, and it's absolutely perfect. The images are dark, mostly black with white and highlights of rich gold. The pictures are breathtaking, and they're really very evocative of the mysteries of being a child, reading a book in the night and imaginign that you're right there. There's one in particular, of an aerial view of a town, that's just gorgeous, but the entire book is a joy.
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Feb 01, 2010
Jaclyn
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The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson was the 2009 Caldecott Medal winner. I gave this book five stars. This picture book is intended for readers from preschool to grade two but its themes are universal. In the dark, a house is lit up with a book just waiting to be read. Swanson’s cyclical words connect the power and imagination of the nighttime with the journey a book can take a reader on while still in the safe and comforting nighttime confines of a well-lit bedroom. The simple t
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Sep 27, 2011
Kelley
rated it:
Critique- Picture Book/ Caldecott Winner
This is the story of a young child getting ready for bed and the familiar things that bring comfort as the nighttime comes and it is time to sleep. A.) I enjoyed the use of repetition in the story. B.) The use of repeating similar words, letters, and phrases, adds to the theme of comfort and security during this bedtime story. This is also an effective way to keep young readers engaged in the wording of a story, by even asking them to predict w More...
This is the story of a young child getting ready for bed and the familiar things that bring comfort as the nighttime comes and it is time to sleep. A.) I enjoyed the use of repetition in the story. B.) The use of repeating similar words, letters, and phrases, adds to the theme of comfort and security during this bedtime story. This is also an effective way to keep young readers engaged in the wording of a story, by even asking them to predict w More...
Feb 08, 2012
Leslee
rated it:
Three words. Absolutely beautiful illustrations. The illustrator used scratch-board and watercolor in mainly black and white with a hint of golden yellow. Every page has so much detail and precision that it made me really appreciate the work that went into this book. The hint of golden yellow is an addition that makes a big difference-without that touch of color it wouldn't be the same because you wouldn't be able to observe the objects on the page. These pictures are very busy in the detail and
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Sep 12, 2009
Meghan
rated it:
I cannot rave highly enough about this book. I can't stop reading it.
First off, the art is block printing at its most alluring. Every page is filled with tender, intimate details in simple black, white and yellow--the yellow is the book's main character, the light.
It is the perfect book for children who are becoming afraid of the dark. It explains how light from the sun reflects off the moon at night and comes into the little one's room. It explains that her home is f More...
First off, the art is block printing at its most alluring. Every page is filled with tender, intimate details in simple black, white and yellow--the yellow is the book's main character, the light.
It is the perfect book for children who are becoming afraid of the dark. It explains how light from the sun reflects off the moon at night and comes into the little one's room. It explains that her home is f More...
Nov 24, 2010
Patterned after a nursery rhyme from the Oxford Nursery Rhyme Book, this is a lovely classic to be read over and over. The illustrator, Beth Krommes has illustrated several books, all in a similar style, although in color. This book is in black and white scratchboard with the introduction of just one color, golden yellow. Watching the progression of her illustrations, she has perfected the stylized pleasing shapes and lines in these drawings. The storyline is simple and follows a meaningful p
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Jul 17, 2009
Rachel
rated it:
The text is a nice repetitive set that helps young children learn to read. However, the star in this book is definitely the illustrations. They are just gorgeous, in scratchboard and watercolor. The black and white backgrounds with the yellow highlighted objects makes this book look magical. No wonder it won the Caldecott. This book is recommended for readers age 3-5.
Sep 22, 2011
Amy
rated it:
1) Genre- Controlled Vocabulary
2) With its glowing illustrations and repetitive text, this is a great bedtime story for children. It makes a connection between everything that “lights” up the home and the comfort it provides for its residents.
3) Critique:
a) I love the repetition within the text because it reminded me of a nursery bedtime story.
b) The story’s repetition makes the text almost appear to be a song. Initially the story begins, as “Here is th More...
2) With its glowing illustrations and repetitive text, this is a great bedtime story for children. It makes a connection between everything that “lights” up the home and the comfort it provides for its residents.
3) Critique:
a) I love the repetition within the text because it reminded me of a nursery bedtime story.
b) The story’s repetition makes the text almost appear to be a song. Initially the story begins, as “Here is th More...
Sep 26, 2011
Kelly
rated it:
1. Controlled Vocabulary (Picture Book)
2. This book a great bedtime story that is about things in the night. It is a poem added with images that does amazing work. Both the author and illustrator create a night time story of a house, a bird, a song, a moon, and more!
3. A. Illustrions
B. The creation of the images on black scratch board with the touch of yellow for light in this book is amazing and creates a great night time feeling that is perfect for bedtime story telling.
More...
2. This book a great bedtime story that is about things in the night. It is a poem added with images that does amazing work. Both the author and illustrator create a night time story of a house, a bird, a song, a moon, and more!
3. A. Illustrions
B. The creation of the images on black scratch board with the touch of yellow for light in this book is amazing and creates a great night time feeling that is perfect for bedtime story telling.
More...
Jan 23, 2012
Brad
rated it:
The House in the Night quickly became one of my favorite picture books. The illustration within the book was simple, yet complex. Every picture is mostly black and white, but various aspects of the image are highlighted with a golden yellow. By highlighting the different elements of the picture, the readers eyes are drawn to different subtleties, which I love. As far as the story is concerned, I also enjoyed the message. The story was fairly simple, no more than one sentence per page, but the me
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Oct 17, 2011
Amy
rated it:
The House in the Night is an interesting book--I'm not really sure how to rate it. My niece and nephew did enjoy the pictures in this one, and a breathless "Wow," even escaped from my niece when we got to the last page in the book. She thought the pictures were beautiful and impactful, and I think they are, too.
But as Cheryl in CC NV indicates in her review of The House In the Night, is the story memorable to a kid? Mmm... Maybe. Maybe not. It's no Goodnight Moon, b More...
But as Cheryl in CC NV indicates in her review of The House In the Night, is the story memorable to a kid? Mmm... Maybe. Maybe not. It's no Goodnight Moon, b More...
Jan 29, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
At first I wasn’t sure I appreciated the drawings, all in black & white & yellow and in an unusual style, but I ended up loving this book: both the patterned text and the amazing pictures, my favorite picture probably being the dog curled up in its bed with its stuffed teddy bear. On every page the pictures contain many lovely little touches.
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