Nightsong

by Sally Soweol Han

From author-illustrator Sally Soweol Han comes a joyful story about discovering new things and listening to the amazing world around us.

After a long day in the hustle and bustle of the big, noisy city, Lewis is ready to go home. But when the BRUMMM of their bus is stopped by a loud POP!, they are stuck waiting along a country road. With nothing to do, Lewis finds himself listening to new noises all around him. Beetles BUZZ and critters ZIP in the moon-bright sky. Whooooooosh, whirr, flitter flutter, rustle rustle-whoa! The more he listens, the more he hears-nature's sounds are full of music.

Perfect for bedtime reading, this lovely story introduces young readers to the amazing sounds all around us-nature's wonder-if we only take time to stop and listen.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Nature, Juvenile, Animals

Hardcover

Reviews

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writing style: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Illustration: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Plot:🌟🌟🌟🌟
Value:🌟🌟🌟🌟
Overall: 4.2/5

[Sarah BT]

Gorgeous art-perfect for bedtime storytime.

[Meghan Bohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very peaceful and atmospheric. Emphasizes the importance of slowing down and listening to nature.

[Victoria Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Bloomsbury Children's Books for the DRC of this book.

A beautiful "quiet" book full of sounds and activity. Much like kids' graphic novels, Sally Soweol Han uses text design and onomatopoeia against a mostly black-and-white illustration pallet to highlight the constant noise of living. Our unnamed MC patiently entertains himself as Mom socializes while wind whooshes, grownups gab, and teapots clink. The city street is even noisier as they make their way to the bus to return home. None of this is noticed with judgment, in fact, it's colorfully depicted, but it's noiseful and busy. Until the bus breaks down on their way home in the countryside.

It's nighttime and while the bus is being repaired, our MC is allowed to step away from the tedious wait (and his cell phone!) to follow "the sounds around him." As he steps through bushes, a panorama of night and nature appears before him, and he delights in the song of owls, brooks, trees, insects, and others. Soweol Han adds more color to her pallet so trees, animals, and hundreds of fireflies come alive in the moonlit night. The dark, moon-drenched nature is peaceful, but our MC is energized and alert all the way home. A great exploration of nighttime that doesn't fall into the saturated nature-lulls-kid-to-sleep category.

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with noise in fun onomatopoeia, a boy and his mother first travel around the city where busy urban noises fill their surroundings. As the two board a bus ~ so many onomatopoeia bus noises as well ~ to head home to the country, they soon find themselves in a rural setting when the bus has a flat tire. The boy is allowed to go out into the nearby woods where he discovers a whole new set of noises: nature at it's sweetest, the sounds of small animals, trees, and nature surround him. A wonderful choice for classroom teachers teaching onomatopoeia.

[API · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book while looking for representation for an API boy. I don't think the little boy in this book is API, just brunette, but I'm glad I came across it anyway. It's got beautiful, unusual illustrations - mostly in grayscale, with subtle splashes of colour. A young boy goes explores nature at night after a bus tyre goes flat. He has a wonderful time discovering wildlife and listening to the sounds they make. A gorgeous book for teaching kids sounds.

[Aolund · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the bus gets a flat tire on the commute home, the main character in Nightsong is only momentarily bored before venturing into the grass at the side of the road to discover a world of singing insects. The illustrations are integral to the story, so this would be difficult for a large storytime but great for one on one or small group reading.

Themes: Bugs, Night, Transportation
Age range: Toddler-Kindergarten

[Emily Haage · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this gorgeous picture book! Noises pop with color against the muted, shades of grey background. The text is simple (good for story time!) and most kids will relate to Lewis' boredom.

The message to stop, listen, pay attention, etc. to nature and our surroundings isn't new, but this rendition is great.

[Ashley (scatteredthistle) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one has such beautiful artwork. I love the black and white with pops of color. The use of pastels is gorgeous. This one would be great to read with a beginning reader like a you read I read. They could do the sounds and you read the main text and then spin off and go explore outside for what the kid saw and heard in the book.

[Morgan the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the art style in this one! I thought all the pops of color were really effective, and I really enjoyed all the sounds that are included in the story. It would be a nice, calming bedtime story for the night-curious.

[Shoshanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very beautiful and quietly told story of a boy and his mom whose bus breaks down. The boy takes the time to discover all the nocturnal night life and the beautiful music they make! I really love the simple story and the beautiful, mostly black and white illustrations!

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't in the right mood when I read this but the night sounds are lovely.

[DonutKnow · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are whole other worlds in nature- this book reminded to think outside of myself 🌏

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated. My 7 year old loved looking at all the sounds on the pages.

[Miss Janis the Storytime Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay. probably better for a slightly smaller crew. a little odd with the fireflies buzzing, but enough sounds to make and things to see to work for a regular ST (this one was just too big).

[Jared White · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very distracted child is forced to slow down for a bit and discovers the beauty of the country night around them.

[Lyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was awesome! The pictures were incredible and I loved the different uses of color. The story was magical too and I loved the idea of all the sounds at night becoming a song together

[Davi Kladakis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is so pretty and would be so fun for story time.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peaceful and onomatopoetic.