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I Like to Read Comics
Night Light
Perfect for new readers in the first grade: a comic about a child, a parent, and the magic of a starry night. By Geisel Award-Winner Michael Emberley!
A blackout! Right in the middle of “the last” bedtime story. The child cries. It’s too dark! The parent gathers stars from the sky light up the child’s room. Now someone else is crying! It’s the moon! The parent returns the stars to they sky, and parent and child pack up their blankets and pillows to sleep outside.
New readers can practice phonics reading with the silent letters "g" and "o" in words such as too, night, light, right, and tight. Children can also read about these characters in I Did It! a Theodor Geisel Award Winner and Let’s Go!, which is on the ALA Best Graphic Novels reading list.
I Like to Read Comics are perfect for kids who are challenged by or unengaged in reading, kids who love art, and the growing number of young comics fans. Filled with eye-catching art, humor, and terrific stories, these comics provide unique reading experiences for growing minds. We hope that all new readers will say, “I like to read comics!”
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
A blackout! Right in the middle of “the last” bedtime story. The child cries. It’s too dark! The parent gathers stars from the sky light up the child’s room. Now someone else is crying! It’s the moon! The parent returns the stars to they sky, and parent and child pack up their blankets and pillows to sleep outside.
New readers can practice phonics reading with the silent letters "g" and "o" in words such as too, night, light, right, and tight. Children can also read about these characters in I Did It! a Theodor Geisel Award Winner and Let’s Go!, which is on the ALA Best Graphic Novels reading list.
I Like to Read Comics are perfect for kids who are challenged by or unengaged in reading, kids who love art, and the growing number of young comics fans. Filled with eye-catching art, humor, and terrific stories, these comics provide unique reading experiences for growing minds. We hope that all new readers will say, “I like to read comics!”
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
40 pages, Hardcover
Published April 15, 2025
30 people want to read
About the author
Michael Emberley
55 books27 followersMichael Emberley is the illustrator of numerous books for children. He lives in Ireland.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 1, 2025
Fun book to give to early readers. Told in graphic novel style with panels and speech bubbles, a father helps his son adjust to the scary dark when the power goes out. Liked the nod to the author’s father showing father reading his son “Big Green Monster” in the first panel.
October 8, 2025
I continue to be confused by the distinction between picture book and graphic novel in this line of I Like To Read comics, but when the results are as outstanding as they are here, it seems unusually pedantic (even for me!) to quibble.
Night Light is another beautiful book from Michael Emberley's series featuring a caretaker and child of indeterminate species. They're snuggling down for bedtime reading when the lights in their city suddenly go out. This is a problem because Child wants one more story, and the one flashlight that they have handy is running out of batteries. So what are a creative caretaker and child to do? Turn to the skies, ofc!
This is a sweet story about not only adapting to adversity but also being considerate and, perhaps most importantly, learning to find the beautiful in the unconventional. There is a bit of unspoken commentary regarding light pollution towards the end, tho it's entirely likely that I'm reading a little too much into that.
What I can say for certain is that Mr Emberley's art continues to charm as much as his story does. The colors are especially gorgeous as Caretaker and Child experience different permutations of light and darkness in their quest to get just one more bedtime story in. The palette of blues, purples and golds is rich and arresting.
The characters' dedication to getting their bedtime stories in will captivate any kids who clamor for the same. I was also impressed with the quality of the language used throughout. It's at the perfect level for beginning readers, but is done in such a way that I didn't even notice any lack of sophistication till my second pass through the book. Mr Emberley has been working in children's books for decades, winning multiple awards along the way, and his mastery of the subject shows. This is a terrific addition to any early readers' library, and heartwarming for both kids and their caretakers.
Night Light by Michael Emberley was published April 15 2025 by Holiday House and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
This review originally appeared at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
Night Light is another beautiful book from Michael Emberley's series featuring a caretaker and child of indeterminate species. They're snuggling down for bedtime reading when the lights in their city suddenly go out. This is a problem because Child wants one more story, and the one flashlight that they have handy is running out of batteries. So what are a creative caretaker and child to do? Turn to the skies, ofc!
This is a sweet story about not only adapting to adversity but also being considerate and, perhaps most importantly, learning to find the beautiful in the unconventional. There is a bit of unspoken commentary regarding light pollution towards the end, tho it's entirely likely that I'm reading a little too much into that.
What I can say for certain is that Mr Emberley's art continues to charm as much as his story does. The colors are especially gorgeous as Caretaker and Child experience different permutations of light and darkness in their quest to get just one more bedtime story in. The palette of blues, purples and golds is rich and arresting.
The characters' dedication to getting their bedtime stories in will captivate any kids who clamor for the same. I was also impressed with the quality of the language used throughout. It's at the perfect level for beginning readers, but is done in such a way that I didn't even notice any lack of sophistication till my second pass through the book. Mr Emberley has been working in children's books for decades, winning multiple awards along the way, and his mastery of the subject shows. This is a terrific addition to any early readers' library, and heartwarming for both kids and their caretakers.
Night Light by Michael Emberley was published April 15 2025 by Holiday House and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
This review originally appeared at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
October 29, 2025
Using only dialogue, this basic-reader level "I Like to Read Comics" offering from award-winning Michael Emberley gives us a story that is beautiful to look at, but not smooth to read.
The 1- to 5-word sentences in speech bubbles is disjointed and abbreviated, making the characters feel like they are trying to speak a foreign language. "What happened?" "Blackout." "Too dark!" "Hold my hand." Instead of being just-enough to convey what's going on, it feels cryptic.
What's worse, on many pages, the speech bubbles' "tails" do not clearly point to a specific character - either the lights are out, or there just isn't enough contrast to see who's talking. (...like when the moon is having feelings, for example.)
Honestly, the images would almost work as a wordless book, except for one detail; the grown-up and the child characters have identical outfits, facial features, haircuts and hair color, and patterns of speech - they are only distinguishable by their relative size. That means anytime there is only one of them "on screen" you have to understand which one it is by keeping track of their story arc. This is not impossible, but it adds a layer of effort when the goal should be lightening the reading load, not weighing it down.
Finally, the child character really feels like a toddler by their behavior and limited speech...which is 3-4 years younger than the likely audience of newly-independent readers who are most likely to reach for this book.
Did I say that the night lights are beautiful? There are definitely readers who have fond memories of getting over the shock of the lights going out, then looking out over a cityscape during a power outage, being amazed at the stars, and then awed by the city lights coming back on. Those readers will relate to the experience, even if the text is somewhat clunky and out of alignment with their reading level.
The 1- to 5-word sentences in speech bubbles is disjointed and abbreviated, making the characters feel like they are trying to speak a foreign language. "What happened?" "Blackout." "Too dark!" "Hold my hand." Instead of being just-enough to convey what's going on, it feels cryptic.
What's worse, on many pages, the speech bubbles' "tails" do not clearly point to a specific character - either the lights are out, or there just isn't enough contrast to see who's talking. (...like when the moon is having feelings, for example.)
Honestly, the images would almost work as a wordless book, except for one detail; the grown-up and the child characters have identical outfits, facial features, haircuts and hair color, and patterns of speech - they are only distinguishable by their relative size. That means anytime there is only one of them "on screen" you have to understand which one it is by keeping track of their story arc. This is not impossible, but it adds a layer of effort when the goal should be lightening the reading load, not weighing it down.
Finally, the child character really feels like a toddler by their behavior and limited speech...which is 3-4 years younger than the likely audience of newly-independent readers who are most likely to reach for this book.
Did I say that the night lights are beautiful? There are definitely readers who have fond memories of getting over the shock of the lights going out, then looking out over a cityscape during a power outage, being amazed at the stars, and then awed by the city lights coming back on. Those readers will relate to the experience, even if the text is somewhat clunky and out of alignment with their reading level.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2025
In this easy reader/comic book hybrid with plenty of wordless panels, Michael Emberly has created a charming and relatable bedtime story. He’s made every part of the book useful, starting with its dark blue endpapers covered with stars and a wordless panel right on the half-title page that shows the two main characters picking out a bedtime read. More wordless panels continue that process right through to the title page. Surprise! The final choice is Go Away, Big Green Monster, Ed Emberly’s 1992 classic (Michael is Ed’s son). In another fun, meta-detail, the characters in Night Light are, in fact, monster-y looking themselves, with human faces, giant red noses, curved horns, and striped pjs with long, baggy tails. The story then plays with the entire bedtime routine: being afraid of the dark, using imagination to conquer those fears, and having a warm and loving good night ritual. Although Emberly frequently uses very sophisticated design elements (insets atop full-page illustrations, cascading panels, a mix of boxed and unboxed vignettes), even very young children will be able to follow his intuitive arrangements. The author’s simple text rarely introduces difficult words or phrases and those he does include (“I’m looking for the flashlight” or “The batteries are dying”) appear next to incredibly helpful and creative illustrations. The scribbly pencil outlines of his creatures gives them a comfortably, rumpled look while a gradual dimming in the color palette communicates the approach of sleep as the adventure wordlessly winds down. It’s rare to find an easy reader this delightful, creative, and beautiful; it's one that adults will enjoy as much as their kids. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
July 20, 2025
Comic books are a niche in the reading world from which serious readers and academics typically shy away. As a child I looked forward to the Sunday Comic section of the newspaper and also enjoyed the frequent reading of comic books. In adult life I found the world of "real" books. There can be a place in the reading world for comic books such as Night Light. Personally, I steer clear of comic book style books, but something about Night Light beckoned to me; and now I can see that they can be quite beneficial and good for young readers and possibly reluctant readers.
This is a cute story of father and son (or older brother and younger brother) reading together a bedtime story and then the lights go out. With few words and lots of boxes of illustrations, the solution these two have to bring light back into the bedroom is innovative and charming. Sparse text and abundant drawings take the two on a search for light. The story and illustrations gently overcome fear of the dark, stoke the imagination for a solution to gaining more light to bring brightness back, and a compassionate solution to restoring another's stolen light.
Cute. Sweet. Charming.
I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.
This is a cute story of father and son (or older brother and younger brother) reading together a bedtime story and then the lights go out. With few words and lots of boxes of illustrations, the solution these two have to bring light back into the bedroom is innovative and charming. Sparse text and abundant drawings take the two on a search for light. The story and illustrations gently overcome fear of the dark, stoke the imagination for a solution to gaining more light to bring brightness back, and a compassionate solution to restoring another's stolen light.
Cute. Sweet. Charming.
I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.
September 10, 2025
Preschoolers may well relate to this charming story about it being too dark at night when the lights are out, but too bright with them on. How best to conquer fear of the dark?
After a blackout in the city, a little creature in striped pajamas wants more light in the room, and the child's parent suggests they illuminate the bedroom with stars taken from the night sky. Not only does that make it too bright inside, but the little one hears the moon crying because the sky is now too dark and feels bad. They give the stars back, not even keeping one, but once again there is too much darkness. They resolve the dilemma by going up on the roof and sleeping under the night sky together with the moon, with the sprinkling of stars making it seem just right.
Adorable illustrations by the author are bound to please young and old alike.
The messages for kids of empathy, sharing, and problem solving in easy-to-read words will appeal to parents, who may also benefit from the gentle reminder that respecting the fears of children and combatting them constructively can have positive outcomes for everyone.
After a blackout in the city, a little creature in striped pajamas wants more light in the room, and the child's parent suggests they illuminate the bedroom with stars taken from the night sky. Not only does that make it too bright inside, but the little one hears the moon crying because the sky is now too dark and feels bad. They give the stars back, not even keeping one, but once again there is too much darkness. They resolve the dilemma by going up on the roof and sleeping under the night sky together with the moon, with the sprinkling of stars making it seem just right.
Adorable illustrations by the author are bound to please young and old alike.
The messages for kids of empathy, sharing, and problem solving in easy-to-read words will appeal to parents, who may also benefit from the gentle reminder that respecting the fears of children and combatting them constructively can have positive outcomes for everyone.
April 24, 2025
A blackout becomes an opportunity for a family to gather some stars to bring them into their house until it's just a little too bright and they throw them back into the night sky and decide to enjoy sleeping on the roof for have the best of everything.
It's a perfect starter for graphic novels since the series is called "I Like to Read Comics" and balances the visual with the dialogue. And the art itself isn't an afterthought because the characters are so vividly drawn that I want them to be real.
It's a perfect starter for graphic novels since the series is called "I Like to Read Comics" and balances the visual with the dialogue. And the art itself isn't an afterthought because the characters are so vividly drawn that I want them to be real.
May 12, 2025
Time for one more story at bedtime but the - oh no! The lights go out. And the flashlight is low on batteries so it's just too dark! Not to worry - our adult will gather all the stars out of the sky and bring them in for light. Now it is VERY bright. Sunglasses bright. But wait - what's that? The moon is sad because now it is too dark in their sky. What to do?
I really enjoyed this book! It was just delightful. And I thought the nod to Ed Emberley's Big Green Monster book was wonderful!
I really enjoyed this book! It was just delightful. And I thought the nod to Ed Emberley's Big Green Monster book was wonderful!
July 17, 2025
Bedtime! Time to read a book! Oh, no, a blackout! Michael Emberley's comic shows a parent doing just the most perfect thing to take away the dark, he gets a ladder to go out and collect some stars. It's a lovely tale that helps address the problem, but wait, then there's another issue: the moon is lonely! It's a great story, perfect for early readers to learn and grow in their reading abilities, and to discover the wonderful world of stories!
Thanks to Holiday House for my copy!
Thanks to Holiday House for my copy!
August 13, 2025
Graphic Novel
A father and child find a special way to get light during a blackout. The father borrows stars and brings them all into the child's room. They enjoy the light until the child hears the moon crying as it is too dark in the sky. They return the stars and enjoy special time together.
A father and child find a special way to get light during a blackout. The father borrows stars and brings them all into the child's room. They enjoy the light until the child hears the moon crying as it is too dark in the sky. They return the stars and enjoy special time together.
May 1, 2025
Early Readers - A graphic novel ER that actually is an easy reader, with words that make sense for a new reader. A cute story about a dad getting the stars during a black out so the kid isn't scared.
May 12, 2025
What child hasn't imagined plucking the stars from the sky? Very sweet parent/child bedtime story with fetching illustrations by the author.
May 29, 2025
During the last book before bed time, there is a black out. It is to dark! Then it is to bright! Cute story.
June 1, 2025
Adorable with sweet illustrations. I loved this simple book!
August 4, 2025
Sweet comic for beginner readers.
October 28, 2025
How lovely! Fulfilling a desire of mine to sleep on a roof with all the city lights around me.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews