What do you think?
Rate this book
It's a Firefly Night
Part glittery counting book, part endearing daddy-daughter story! A favorite childhood activity—catching fireflies—glows from the pages of this story, plus counting. Lilting rhymes chronicle a little girl's capture and release of fireflies, one by one, capped off by a collection of fascinating firefly facts.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 25, 1997
3 people are currently reading
382 people want to read
About the author
Dianne Ochiltree
16 books78 followersDianne Ochiltree is a nationally recognized author of books for the very young. Her books have been featured on recommended lists, translated to foreign language editions, released in audio versions and selected for use in lesson plans by teachers nationwide. Her picture book, LULL-A-BYE, LITTLE ONE, has been a selection in the Dollywood Foundation's childhood literacy initiative, Imagination Library, since 2007. Her picture book, MOLLY BY GOLLY! THE LEGEND OF MOLLY WILLIAMS AMERICA'S FIRST FEMALE FIREFIGHTER, received the Florida Book Awards Bronze Medal in the Children’s Literature category in 2012. Her picture book, IT'S A FIREFLY NIGHT, won the Florida Book Awards Silver Medal in 2013. Her upcoming picture book, IT'S A SEASHELL DAY (July 2015), winner of the Gold Medal/Gwen Reichert Award from the Florida Book Awards, encourages an appreciation of nature...and there's counting , too! Dianne lives in Sarasota, Florida, where she writes, draws, teaches yoga, and goes on therapy dog visits with her furry girlfriend, Sally. For more information about her books, go to dianneochiltree.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
December 11, 2013
Of all the picture books I have read over the last few years this one is my favorite. The writing is lyrical, the illustrations are phenomenal and the story itself is heart warming. It transports you into the life of this wonderful young girl who looks at the world with innocence and wonder as she watches the fireflies and adventures outside with her father. Unlike many novels for younger children it doesn't focus on what she wants, what she is being told to do or other common themes in picture books. Instead it gives you a bigger picture, it makes you feel like you are out in that wonderful firefly night with her and exploring as you very carefully capture fireflies, only to let them go again because they belong to the night and another firefly night will come.
The illustrations by Betsy Snyder really bring the story Dianne Ochiltree wrote to life. It was reminiscent of The Very Hungry Caterpillar to me but with more whimsy and finesse. Each image had just the right focus with unique perspectives such as seeing more from the firefly's point of view than the girl's. The style is relatable for a child - the kind of illustrations I could imagine having copied onto a wall of a child's room. This wonderful young girl happily adventuring with the smiling pup running ahead and beautiful touches in the background from bird houses to flowers.
Simply magical! Anyone looking for a last minute Christmas gift should pick up this treasure. It is a real treat. Amazing 5 star picture book I would pick up for any child. If you get this book you are getting more than a picture book, you are getting an experience and a wonderful but subtle lesson for a all ages.
The illustrations by Betsy Snyder really bring the story Dianne Ochiltree wrote to life. It was reminiscent of The Very Hungry Caterpillar to me but with more whimsy and finesse. Each image had just the right focus with unique perspectives such as seeing more from the firefly's point of view than the girl's. The style is relatable for a child - the kind of illustrations I could imagine having copied onto a wall of a child's room. This wonderful young girl happily adventuring with the smiling pup running ahead and beautiful touches in the background from bird houses to flowers.
Simply magical! Anyone looking for a last minute Christmas gift should pick up this treasure. It is a real treat. Amazing 5 star picture book I would pick up for any child. If you get this book you are getting more than a picture book, you are getting an experience and a wonderful but subtle lesson for a all ages.
June 24, 2013
Just looking at the cover of this book brought back very happy memories for me, as I too was a firefly chaser as a little girl. I grew up in a small town and the next town over had a beautiful, flat, meadowy field where at twilight thousands of fireflies would come and play. Their light show was spectacular and my parents would drive us there and release their three little girls into that magical space. We would put our arms out, our heads back and run right through the middle of swarms of golden sparklers, pretending that we were one of them. We would dance and twirl amongst them like they were lighting up an enchanted ball room for us to perform in. I have always loved fireflies dearly and even to this day they are one of my favourite things.
A father and his special girl child go out into the night to chase fireflies. The twinkling sky is filled with millions of stars and the night has a surreal and magical feel to it. The little girl is spell-bound as she sees fireflies scattered in trees and flowers winking a smile to her and beckoning her to come and play with them. Wearing her nightgown and bare toes she and her dog run through the cushy grass and gently apprehend ten fireflies placing them carefully in a glass jar to enjoy - but for just a moment or two. She realizes that these blazing little sparklers are not hers to keep and after she revels in their presence she lets them go. "l love catching fireflies,/ but they are not mine,"/ she cups each captive in her hand before "easy and slow,/ I whisper good-bye/ then let it go." I loved the line that says, "I take one gently out of the jar. My hand is a cage for one tiny star." The colourful word choices paint an amazing diorama of an unforgettable experience. A memory that will last a lifetime.
Written in rhyme, with a sing-songy flow, this book will evoke happiness and excitement as you share it cuddled up together. The back of the book has a some interesting facts about fireflies which will be great to go over with your child and give her factual information about these amazing little insects.
A father and his special girl child go out into the night to chase fireflies. The twinkling sky is filled with millions of stars and the night has a surreal and magical feel to it. The little girl is spell-bound as she sees fireflies scattered in trees and flowers winking a smile to her and beckoning her to come and play with them. Wearing her nightgown and bare toes she and her dog run through the cushy grass and gently apprehend ten fireflies placing them carefully in a glass jar to enjoy - but for just a moment or two. She realizes that these blazing little sparklers are not hers to keep and after she revels in their presence she lets them go. "l love catching fireflies,/ but they are not mine,"/ she cups each captive in her hand before "easy and slow,/ I whisper good-bye/ then let it go." I loved the line that says, "I take one gently out of the jar. My hand is a cage for one tiny star." The colourful word choices paint an amazing diorama of an unforgettable experience. A memory that will last a lifetime.
Written in rhyme, with a sing-songy flow, this book will evoke happiness and excitement as you share it cuddled up together. The back of the book has a some interesting facts about fireflies which will be great to go over with your child and give her factual information about these amazing little insects.
August 22, 2015
My memories of childhood summers conjure thoughts of unscheduled days at the beach, of playing with friends, all balanced with lots of time to daydream, read and spend time with family. (We had no TV, if you can even imagine that!) Now summer looks and feels quite different. Day care, summer camps, programmed activities and TV dominate many kids’ summer days. Parents struggle to engage their childrens’ attention, to divert them from the various tech and media available to them.
Still, summer offers a wonderful opportunity to build positive memories of time having fun together. Fun is FUN-damental to building strong family ties. From my own childhood, I recall scampering across the grass collecting fireflies. Their glow seemed magical and filled us with wonder. Because It’s a Firefly Night by Diane Ochiltree captures this delightful moment, I truly enjoyed reading it. The little girl’s excitement is palpable when her Daddy tell her, “It’s a firefly night.” The reader senses that this is a special ritual that the child shares with her daddy and something she will treasure down the years of her life. Betsy Snyder’s luminous art brings the rhyming/counting text to life. Children can make a game of searching for and tracking the number of bugs, flowers, etc. And have fun in the process!
Still, summer offers a wonderful opportunity to build positive memories of time having fun together. Fun is FUN-damental to building strong family ties. From my own childhood, I recall scampering across the grass collecting fireflies. Their glow seemed magical and filled us with wonder. Because It’s a Firefly Night by Diane Ochiltree captures this delightful moment, I truly enjoyed reading it. The little girl’s excitement is palpable when her Daddy tell her, “It’s a firefly night.” The reader senses that this is a special ritual that the child shares with her daddy and something she will treasure down the years of her life. Betsy Snyder’s luminous art brings the rhyming/counting text to life. Children can make a game of searching for and tracking the number of bugs, flowers, etc. And have fun in the process!
November 4, 2013
[Source: ARC provided courtesy of Edelweiss] This review also appears on Words.Blank-Stare.com
My reading partner is a kindergartner, and we loved this book! The poem was simple enough to for her understand but the message behind the poem was enough to keep me interested, too.
The most compelling aspect of this book really lies in the illustrations. They’re just beautiful. The pages depict open fields with flowers under moonlight, and of course, bright fireflies. They are crisp and colorful and really get across the sentiments of summer.
My only complaint is that this e-version seemed to splice the images in half lengthwise. I ended up holding the Kindle flat to allow two pages of images to show at once. I presume we’d love the physical copy of this book even more.
It’s a Firefly Night would be a fun addition to any child’s library and a great book to use to introduce children to fireflies during summer!
My reading partner is a kindergartner, and we loved this book! The poem was simple enough to for her understand but the message behind the poem was enough to keep me interested, too.
The most compelling aspect of this book really lies in the illustrations. They’re just beautiful. The pages depict open fields with flowers under moonlight, and of course, bright fireflies. They are crisp and colorful and really get across the sentiments of summer.
My only complaint is that this e-version seemed to splice the images in half lengthwise. I ended up holding the Kindle flat to allow two pages of images to show at once. I presume we’d love the physical copy of this book even more.
It’s a Firefly Night would be a fun addition to any child’s library and a great book to use to introduce children to fireflies during summer!
July 25, 2013
It's a Firefly Night is a terrific book! Dianne Ochiltree Very informative and exciting.
The book is about a young girl whose father takes her outside to catch firefly beetles, and then returns them to the sky. The Art work by Betsy Snyder is amazing!
When I begin reading it's like I'm in the book with the little girl; feeling the breeze, holding the tender beetles, feeling the grass beneath my feet. I fun story with fun facts!
Thank you Ms. Ochiltree!
The book is about a young girl whose father takes her outside to catch firefly beetles, and then returns them to the sky. The Art work by Betsy Snyder is amazing!
When I begin reading it's like I'm in the book with the little girl; feeling the breeze, holding the tender beetles, feeling the grass beneath my feet. I fun story with fun facts!
Thank you Ms. Ochiltree!
May 24, 2013
Loved this book so much! I reminded me of my childhood and catching fireflies after dark. It is a fun, bittersweet summer ritual for a young girl and her dad. She counts up all the fireflies she catches, then counts back down again as she releases them back into the night. The illustrations are lovely and truly evokes the feeling of excitement children get at the sight of fireflies glowing in the night.
June 24, 2018
We read this as part of our wild animal storytime.
A hit with the kids...
A hit with the kids...
June 26, 2024
Beautiful illustrations and a book about nature’s beauty— fireflies. The little girl in the book loves catching and releasing lightening bugs. I like how this book makes it a special thing between her and her dad. This brings back memories of when I was a kid and would catch fireflies with my brother and dad as well.
September 3, 2018
I picked up this book because back East, where I grew up, we used to catch fireflies. Now that I live in the Northwest, we just don't have them here, so this book brought back great memories. The cover is fantastic and grabs you at once. There is color and glitter to attract a child. The story itself is sweet, about a young girl and her dad who go out to catch fireflies. The little girl puts them in her jar and then counts them as she releases them. I enjoyed the big, bold images and lush colors. I thought the book ended abruptly, with the daughter asking a question, and when I turned the page, that was the end. But, there are tons of firefly facts on the last couple pages that kids will like. I'm giving this one 4 stars!
August 5, 2018
This book is gorgeous. I just adored it. It was so sweet to read about a father and daughter making amazing summer time memories together. It was a tender story about warm summer nights and catching fireflies, but then letting them go in a very sweet way. Such a wonderful story that brought a smile to my face and warmth into my heart. The illustrations were charming and sweet. I loved the puppy so much among all the other brilliant pictures and details. It is a perfect book for summer and one I cannot wait to use in my classes! The kids will love it. This book is sure to become a new classroom favorite!!!!
June 19, 2025
Always a sucker for books about kids and their dads. Love the art.
August 7, 2013
This is a cute book about a girl's short adventure in catching fireflies.
The short story also provides a bit of counting: up to five and then backwards from ten.
The illustrations are bright and well-done. The rhyming text could flow better in some places where the beat stumbles and where the rhymes are forced (where the rhyme is near-rhyme instead of a perfect rhyme). These places in the story gave me pause.
This story would provide young children with a good introduction to fireflies, which are actually becoming endangered in some parts of the world due to "light pollution" at night. (Turn out the lights!) I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, but look forward to sharing it with my nieces.
The short story also provides a bit of counting: up to five and then backwards from ten.
The illustrations are bright and well-done. The rhyming text could flow better in some places where the beat stumbles and where the rhymes are forced (where the rhyme is near-rhyme instead of a perfect rhyme). These places in the story gave me pause.
This story would provide young children with a good introduction to fireflies, which are actually becoming endangered in some parts of the world due to "light pollution" at night. (Turn out the lights!) I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, but look forward to sharing it with my nieces.
July 27, 2013
I am a retired elementary teacher from Ohio currently teaching future teachers at a university. I mulled using this book that I won on goodreads in my class, but have decided it best belongs in the hands of my granddaughter adalyn. She does not have fireflies where she lives and this book will be a treasure and remembrance of her visits to ohio. I will be sending Diane Adalyn's photo with her lovely book.
August 8, 2013
My first comment after seeing the first page was: "Ooo! This is gorgeous!". Snyder's artwork is colorful, fun, and very captivating. Ochiltree has the storyline make a great point about making sure to set the fireflies free after playing with them - a great lesson for children to learn while appreciating nature. The rhymes flowed nicely, and the little factoids at the end were interesting and educational!
June 14, 2018
Want to know more about the art and where the firefly facts at the end of the book come from.
June 17, 2013
Spend an evening with a little girl and her father enjoying one of those magical nights granted to us by summer. Dianne Ochiltree and Betsy Snyder have created a book that glows.
My full review: http://bit.ly/11i5cgI
My full review: http://bit.ly/11i5cgI
June 3, 2013
For those of us who live in states without fireflies - they are extra magically special.
June 21, 2013
This book reminded me of growing up on the east coast. Although we called them lightnin bugs, IT'S A FIRELFY NIGHT is a good rhyming book for kids.
Want to read
June 17, 2013I would love to get this book so I can donate it to the local cancer center.
June 12, 2013
I love this book. A quiet, simple and sweet father daughter tale evoking the memory of a hot summer night catching fireflies. Illustrations are also very appealing, dreamy and impressionistic.
July 6, 2013
great rhyming story. wish the book and illustrations were larger sized. delightful computer based illustrations. sparkles on cover.
July 23, 2013
Beautiful book! Great for children and their parents to share.
July 15, 2013
Pretty illustrations but the text seemed forced in order to make rhymes.
July 17, 2013
Whimsical and lyrical. So many good bug books out there for storytime!
July 23, 2013
Nice illustrations, fun facts at the end of the book. Very pleasing to read aloud.
September 6, 2013
It is a very cute book. It is simple to read and my baby niece loves it.
January 14, 2020
Joy filled story of catching fireflies on a summer evening. Love that she releases them in the end.
Information text about these beetles at the end of the book.
Information text about these beetles at the end of the book.
November 5, 2021
Beautifully illustrated !
July 30, 2013
Adorable illustrations!
October 27, 2021
This is a simple story about a little girl who likes to catch fireflies. This was a mirror book for me for sure. One of my favorite things to do as a small child was to outside, usually at my grandparents house when my cousins were over, and catch fireflies and put them i a jar to release when we were ready to go inside. The little girl's excitement about catching fireflies mirrors how I was when I was little. This book made me see my childhood self and wish I could go back to the simpler times when I could go outside and catch fireflies without being tired or feeling like I had better things to do. Overall the story was super cute and the illustrations did really good with showing what was happening in the story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews