Night Gliders

by Joanne Ryder, Melissa Bay Mathis

Four furry squirrels leap and glide through the night sky, feeding and playing until the approach of daybreak

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Joanna Ryder is an award-winning author whose books offer a unique blend of poetry and science. Her innovative Just for a Day series invites children into the world of wild animals, ranging from a sea otter to Tyrannosaurus rex. Ms. Ryder says, "Children know that my books often ask them to imagine being a different creature. So they always ask me which animal I would choose to be. I'd be a flying one, I tell them. Or if I could, I'd wish for wings. And I've discovered children would love wings, too. But which ones to choose? I wrote Rainbow Wings to help us decide." Ms. Ryder lives in Pacific Grove, California.

-taken from www.balkinbuddies.com

Reviews

[Jessica]

Text to learning connection

After reading this story I plan on having children do an identifying activity. I will show the children different animals. They will be shown animals that are typical of being out during the day and ones that they may have only glanced at during the night. We will reflect on the story and and what we have learned by classifying animals as nocturnal or niurnal (active during the day). We will then discuss what reasons a animal might have for being more active during the night that the day.

[David F]

Found this hidden gem in my neighborhood’s little library box and took it home for my daughter. She’s not yet old enough for it (recommended for ages 3-9) but I was impressed with the art and the poem. Not sure where some of these < 4 star reviews are coming from so if anyone can articulate what they actually don’t like about it, please reply to this review with a comment (serious question, because I also write poetry and would love to know how the author could have done better given the subject matter). I mean, come on folks! We live in the age of Rupi Kaur’s Milk and Honey and these negative Nancys are knocking on a normal poem about flying squirrels. “This book won’t make it into my homeschool collection”—okay, witch. What were you expecting to find when you looked at the cover of the book? The [blessed] hero’s journey?! At least it’s a children book with a real author and a real illustrator instead of one of these made by such-and-such corporation AI slop productions. Will keep a look out for other books by Joanne Ryder the next time I’m at the library.

[hhhhhhhhh]

adorable!

[Anna Marie]

While the art was beautiful, it wasn't anything I would keep in our homeschooling collection, sadly.

[Connie]

Too many writers think that picture books have to rhyme, so they try to do that in their books, imitating, perhaps, Seuss. Unfortunately, because too many writers have no idea about poetry, the rhymes often fall flat and do, indeed, sound trite.

Not so in this book. The text makes a real, a good poem, one that I wouldn't be ashamed to read aloud on a crowded bus. The author does not talk down to children either. Lyrical is the best word for the poem.

I will also note that the artwork is equally well-done, and suits the mood set by the text.

The author's note at the end about flying squirrels is also appreciated.

[Destiny Dawn Long]

The illustrations are what made me pick this book from the shelf. They've got such amazing lighting techniques in them--they really seem to glow. And they've got a softness and roundness that should appeal to younger children.

The poetic text is nice, although sometimes the rhythm felt a little off, and it made me stumble a bit while reading to my daughter. But I appreciated the overall feel of the language, and that the author doesn't talk down to children.

[Molly]

Horrible poem. I doubt any child would much like the words or rhythm. The illustrations were remarkable though; positively beautiful.