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Flashlight Night
Flashlight Night
is an ode to the power of imagination and the wonder of books. Three children use a flashlight to light a path around their backyard at night; in the flashlight's beam another world looms. Our heroes encounter spooky woods, a fearsome tiger, a time-forgotten tomb, an Egyptian god, a sword-fighting pirate, and a giant squid. With ingenuity, they vanquish all, then return to their tree house--braver, closer, and wiser than before--to read the books that inspired their adventure.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2017
2 people are currently reading
430 people want to read
About the author
Matt Forrest Esenwine
12 books35 followersAs a radio broadcaster, Matt spent a good deal of time writing and producing commercials and comedy bits. He also wrote poetry, which was published in various national journals and anthologies including the Donald Hall tribute, "Except for Love" (Encircle, 2019). Little did he know all this short-form writing would lead to his debut picture book, the Kirkus-starred "Flashlight Night" (Astra Young Readers, 2017), which was selected by the New York Public Library as one of the Best Books for Kids 2017 and even showed up on Encyclopedia Brittanica’s list of “11 Children’s Books That Inspire Imagination.”
Matt now has more than a dozen books to his credit including "I Am Today" (POW! Kids Books, 2022), which received the 2023 NH State Literary Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature, and "Once Upon Another Time" (Beaming Books, 2021), co-authored with Charles Ghigna (aka, Father Goose®), a book that ALA’s Booklist called “a necessary addition to picture book collections.”
Meanwhile, Matt's children’s poetry can be found in anthologies like "The National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry" and "The Poetry of US," (National Geographic Children’s Books, 2015 & 2018), "Construction People" and "School People" (Wordsong, 2020/2018) and 'Highlights for Children' magazine.
Matt may be an adult, but he refuses to be a grown-up. Feel free to connect with him at https://www.MattForrest.com!
Matt now has more than a dozen books to his credit including "I Am Today" (POW! Kids Books, 2022), which received the 2023 NH State Literary Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature, and "Once Upon Another Time" (Beaming Books, 2021), co-authored with Charles Ghigna (aka, Father Goose®), a book that ALA’s Booklist called “a necessary addition to picture book collections.”
Meanwhile, Matt's children’s poetry can be found in anthologies like "The National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry" and "The Poetry of US," (National Geographic Children’s Books, 2015 & 2018), "Construction People" and "School People" (Wordsong, 2020/2018) and 'Highlights for Children' magazine.
Matt may be an adult, but he refuses to be a grown-up. Feel free to connect with him at https://www.MattForrest.com!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
January 24, 2018
The story is pretty average for a story. Kids get into antics playing imagination games. Big deal.
NO IT IS A BIG DEAL. You know why?
THE M.F'ING ILLUSTRATIONS!! They're ingenious. Instead of a typical story about a flashlight revealing that the scary shadow in the corner is just a chair, this flashlight reveals swaths of imagination and intrigue. The cat in the back yard becomes a tiger in a jungle. The deck turns into a pirate ship. It's beautiful and so, so creative.
I loved that this book took the fundamental fear-of-the-dark and turned the comfort of the-monster-is-just-a-tree-outside completely on its head. There's no need to be afraid of the dark. Explore the dark! That isn't just a cat in some weeds. It's a tiger and you're on a g.d. safari.
This illustrator threw down and I don't think many illustrators could even compete let alone beat them. A+, good sir.
NO IT IS A BIG DEAL. You know why?
THE M.F'ING ILLUSTRATIONS!! They're ingenious. Instead of a typical story about a flashlight revealing that the scary shadow in the corner is just a chair, this flashlight reveals swaths of imagination and intrigue. The cat in the back yard becomes a tiger in a jungle. The deck turns into a pirate ship. It's beautiful and so, so creative.
I loved that this book took the fundamental fear-of-the-dark and turned the comfort of the-monster-is-just-a-tree-outside completely on its head. There's no need to be afraid of the dark. Explore the dark! That isn't just a cat in some weeds. It's a tiger and you're on a g.d. safari.
This illustrator threw down and I don't think many illustrators could even compete let alone beat them. A+, good sir.
September 14, 2017
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a galley of this title for review purposes.
Flashlight Night is a picture book that educators and parents will be so excited to share with children, both at home and school. It demonstrates exploration, imagination and curiosity, as well a sense of play that almost jumps off of the pages in Koehler's illustrations. The text is sparse and lyrical, with no more than 4 lines of text on any given page spread. The opportunities for flashlight play after reading this book are abundant, as are the opportunities for imaginative play.
Flashlight Night is a picture book that educators and parents will be so excited to share with children, both at home and school. It demonstrates exploration, imagination and curiosity, as well a sense of play that almost jumps off of the pages in Koehler's illustrations. The text is sparse and lyrical, with no more than 4 lines of text on any given page spread. The opportunities for flashlight play after reading this book are abundant, as are the opportunities for imaginative play.
September 15, 2017
A delightful rhyming picture book that takes readers into quite an adventure. When the light's out, the imagination turns on!
October 29, 2017
Thank you to #kidlitexchange for my review copy of this book! All opinions are, of course, my own. This is a super perfect read for the little ones around Halloween. It's not scary but it's all about the dark and I found myself reading it in a whisper, even with no one else around! I'm terrible at rhythm but even I could tell this book had a good one (every line rhymed). It's a super quick read so, depending on the child, you might want to have another book handy to read with it at bedtime (my nieces/nephews are not the kind to want you to read the same story twice).
February 7, 2018
Cute, three kids have adventures at night with their flashlight to lead the way. Until someone says lights out. Then all go to sleep.
April 27, 2018
I enjoyed the poem but not the illustrations
July 4, 2017
This book is absolutely stunning! There is so much to notice and the text is beautiful as well. I look forward to sharing it with students.
October 22, 2017
My son and daughter will love this one!
June 27, 2017
Gorgeous, gorgeous picture book. Full of beautiful words and amazing illustrations. Shines the spotlight (see what I did there??) on creativity and imagination!
June 26, 2017
Beautifully illustrated by Fred Koehler!
June 13, 2017
Fred Koehler's illustrations are incredible in this book. The flashlight beam illuminates parts of the page to reveal imagination and adventure right in the backyard. It's even more fun to read in the dark with your own flashlight.
July 18, 2019
Full review with teaching guide and time lapse video of the illustrator: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=1...
Flashlight Night by Matt Forrest Esenwine and Fred Koehler takes the reader on an adventure that truly illuminates the power of imagination. Esenwine’s poetic language is lyrical and filled with imagery and when accompanied with Koehler’s beautifully detailed pencil illustrations, the story comes to life.
I was so lucky to be able to spend some time with Fred at ALA and learn all about his adventures to find just the right inspiration for these illustrations. He went on some amazing adventures to Great Britain where he hiked and visited sites all to ensure that his illustrations were perfect for Matt’s story. He also showed us a time-lapse video of his pencil drawing one spread for the book. Yes, hand drawn with pencil. Beautiful and so impressive!
And this story is going to be loved by kids of all ages because of the fun adventures and parents will love the promotion of imagination. For example, this story made Trent want to go exploring, and Trent loves flashlights, so he loved the idea that a flashlight at night can bring about a how imaginative world!
(Read to Trent by Fred Koehler when he visited his school!)
Flashlight Night by Matt Forrest Esenwine and Fred Koehler takes the reader on an adventure that truly illuminates the power of imagination. Esenwine’s poetic language is lyrical and filled with imagery and when accompanied with Koehler’s beautifully detailed pencil illustrations, the story comes to life.
I was so lucky to be able to spend some time with Fred at ALA and learn all about his adventures to find just the right inspiration for these illustrations. He went on some amazing adventures to Great Britain where he hiked and visited sites all to ensure that his illustrations were perfect for Matt’s story. He also showed us a time-lapse video of his pencil drawing one spread for the book. Yes, hand drawn with pencil. Beautiful and so impressive!
And this story is going to be loved by kids of all ages because of the fun adventures and parents will love the promotion of imagination. For example, this story made Trent want to go exploring, and Trent loves flashlights, so he loved the idea that a flashlight at night can bring about a how imaginative world!
(Read to Trent by Fred Koehler when he visited his school!)
August 29, 2017
I love picture books, but I especially love them when the author’s words are poetic and the illustrator’s imagination brings forth the very best of those words into something that can be enjoyed by all ages. This book by debut author Matt Essenwine will be out in early September. I was lucky to win a copy from Matt, who signed it for my granddaughters, who adore it. I have my own copy too, and think I love it just as much as they did. Now I wish I had a class to read it to!
Matt begins to celebrate adventure in his rhyming story of what only a flashlight can do: “Leads you past old post and rail/along a long-forgotten trail/into woods no others dare,/for fear of what is waiting there.” Fred Koehler takes those words and creates a story of three children who are off to a tree house sleepover, flashlight in hand. Here go the adventurers, a girl, a boy, a younger boy with teddy bear and every time they shine that flashlight, new scenes metamorphose into adventure, like from a swimming pool into the sea complete with pirate ship. The words read like a tale to be read aloud at night, the pencil sketches with a bit of color show the tension, and there is often a tiger sneaking into the scene! I imagine reading this aloud to a group who just might hold their breaths until the surprise ending.
The book is a joy to read, and a must read here at the beginning of school when teachers hope to begin students with a reading year of celebration. The book will carry students into reading explorations with many paths.
Matt begins to celebrate adventure in his rhyming story of what only a flashlight can do: “Leads you past old post and rail/along a long-forgotten trail/into woods no others dare,/for fear of what is waiting there.” Fred Koehler takes those words and creates a story of three children who are off to a tree house sleepover, flashlight in hand. Here go the adventurers, a girl, a boy, a younger boy with teddy bear and every time they shine that flashlight, new scenes metamorphose into adventure, like from a swimming pool into the sea complete with pirate ship. The words read like a tale to be read aloud at night, the pencil sketches with a bit of color show the tension, and there is often a tiger sneaking into the scene! I imagine reading this aloud to a group who just might hold their breaths until the surprise ending.
The book is a joy to read, and a must read here at the beginning of school when teachers hope to begin students with a reading year of celebration. The book will carry students into reading explorations with many paths.
March 8, 2018
Target audience: Early elementary
Summary: Three children drag a stack of adventure books, bedrolls and a flashlight to their backyard treehouse. Soon they sally forth, using a flashlight to "open up the night" revealing a shadowy and increasingly fantastic world replete with tigers, hieroglyphs, ancient tombs, pirates threatened by kraken and castles. As the adventure proceeds and the children find themselves in increasing danger, a narration of simple couplets spells out the events in rhyme until the three use their wits and teamwork to elude these threats and return to the safety of the treehouse where they read a Jules Verne novel by flashlight until lights out.
Strengths: Delightful illustrations, allusions to classical adventure novels, (Around the World in Eighty Days, Treasure Island) good pacing and an excellent coordination between the writer and the illustrator.
Critique: Recommended: a fun book which encourages imagination and portrays children enjoying the classics.
Illustrations: Charming illustrations intertwined with a delightful narrative.
Summary: Three children drag a stack of adventure books, bedrolls and a flashlight to their backyard treehouse. Soon they sally forth, using a flashlight to "open up the night" revealing a shadowy and increasingly fantastic world replete with tigers, hieroglyphs, ancient tombs, pirates threatened by kraken and castles. As the adventure proceeds and the children find themselves in increasing danger, a narration of simple couplets spells out the events in rhyme until the three use their wits and teamwork to elude these threats and return to the safety of the treehouse where they read a Jules Verne novel by flashlight until lights out.
Strengths: Delightful illustrations, allusions to classical adventure novels, (Around the World in Eighty Days, Treasure Island) good pacing and an excellent coordination between the writer and the illustrator.
Critique: Recommended: a fun book which encourages imagination and portrays children enjoying the classics.
Illustrations: Charming illustrations intertwined with a delightful narrative.
October 15, 2017
Flashlight Night
By Matt Forrest Esenwine
Illustrated by Fred Koehler
Rating 5
I’ve never read a book under the covers with a flashlight before. I mean I was the eldest of four girls who shared a bedroom...it was two in a bed so any privacy was non existent. Sooo, what happens when you have a flashlight, a book and the dark of night? I will let you know...I’m giving this book along with a flashlight to my grandson, who is almost three. This will be a new adventure for the both of us and I can't wait to share it with him!
The story is simply told in rhyme that actually flows well, makes sense and is pleasant to the ear. No monsters hiding in the closets or under the bed. But rather all kinds of adventures found in books. The illustrations are just luscious to the eyes... not much color; but then it is a book to be read by flashlight! I think there is so much to see on each and every page that the adventures will never end night after night
This is definitely a bedtime story that will never be retired to the shelf!!!
By Matt Forrest Esenwine
Illustrated by Fred Koehler
Rating 5
I’ve never read a book under the covers with a flashlight before. I mean I was the eldest of four girls who shared a bedroom...it was two in a bed so any privacy was non existent. Sooo, what happens when you have a flashlight, a book and the dark of night? I will let you know...I’m giving this book along with a flashlight to my grandson, who is almost three. This will be a new adventure for the both of us and I can't wait to share it with him!
The story is simply told in rhyme that actually flows well, makes sense and is pleasant to the ear. No monsters hiding in the closets or under the bed. But rather all kinds of adventures found in books. The illustrations are just luscious to the eyes... not much color; but then it is a book to be read by flashlight! I think there is so much to see on each and every page that the adventures will never end night after night
This is definitely a bedtime story that will never be retired to the shelf!!!
October 23, 2017
This book was so much fun. The pictures were vivid and sharp, the story was not wordy but to the point and it flowed. The pictures left room for the reader and child to imagine more. I could think of a few things to do for a storytime as a professional and as a parent that would be fun. You could set up tents with lights and go on a ghost hunt yourselves with flashlights. Do a craft drawing or painting or coloring shapes from the flashlight. This book give so many possibilities if one has the imagination to get it.
September 20, 2017
Beautiful illustrations show just what a flashlight can help you see with a little bit of imagination. The three boys in the backyard treehouse at night use a flashlight to see strange paths, wild animals, and exciting adventures. I love how the illustrations have a limited palette in the "darkened" areas of the backyard, but colorful details show up in the illumination of the flashlight. This could serve as a great mentor text for creative writing and drawing - what might your own flashlight show?
September 22, 2017
5 for plots, 4 for illustration. I loved this way how this book stimulates I give action of kids. Imagination itself, constructed in proper way, it an essential element for kids to deal with obstacles in the future, and a way for them to enjoy life more. The end of this book definitely making it great to be a bed time story too. Perhaps kids go to sleep and begin their adventure in dreams.
The texture of the illustration is a bit strange, not sure if that is the creation of the illustrator, but it should work for kids.
The texture of the illustration is a bit strange, not sure if that is the creation of the illustrator, but it should work for kids.
September 10, 2017
Esenwine, Matt Forrest Flashlight Night, illustrated by Fred Koehler. PICTURE BOOK. Boyds Mill Press, 2017. $17.
A trio of friends take their flashlight out into the night and use their imaginations to encounter many mysterious adventures.
What a great flip from the regular flashlight book. Usually the flashlight is used to stop a child from being scared by showing what is there vs their imaginings. This time the flashlight helps them imagine the different worlds they enter. It is a little dark, but I think that helps blur the line between reality and fantasy in a fun way.
EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
A trio of friends take their flashlight out into the night and use their imaginations to encounter many mysterious adventures.
What a great flip from the regular flashlight book. Usually the flashlight is used to stop a child from being scared by showing what is there vs their imaginings. This time the flashlight helps them imagine the different worlds they enter. It is a little dark, but I think that helps blur the line between reality and fantasy in a fun way.
EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
September 19, 2017
I had the pleasure of reading this title in advance during an art show featuring Fred Koehler's work. It is a great adventure with appeal for all ages. It has inspired me to plan 3 different programs for various children's groups at my library. Read and enjoy. Can't wait for my copies to arrive and be able to share with my young explorers.
Read
December 1, 2017One reason this book is such an enjoyment is the illustrations and the way the illustrator uses the flashlight throughout. I love how the flashlight has the imagination showing from the characters perspective. I can just imagine how exciting this book would be for a child. SO cool! The story also has great descriptive words throughout.
Grade level: 2-4
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Grade level: 2-4
Genre: Modern Fantasy
April 6, 2021
So very fun! Simple rhyming text makes for an easy read. The true star here is the illustrations - they're ingenious! One of the coolest ways I've seen a picture book show imagination. I've read this multiple times and I always notice something new.
Definitely adding to my booklist for our Nighttime Scavenger Hunt Grab and Go Kit this fall.
Definitely adding to my booklist for our Nighttime Scavenger Hunt Grab and Go Kit this fall.
September 7, 2017
Three children use their flashlights to light up their nighttime backyard, and use their vivid imaginations to fill each corner with incredible otherworldly scenes. From a ferocious tiger to a giant squid, a swashbuckling pirate to an Egyptian god, there’s no limit to the worlds the children conjure up.
The gently rhyming text never lets the scenes become too scary or intimidating, and the characters’ bedtime adventures are eventually brought to a satisfying end.
Fred Koehler’s highly detailed illustrations capture the scale of the children’s imaginations, and effectively blur the lines between what is real and what is an illusion. This creates a sort of dreamlike quality that beautifully matches the bedtime theme. There’s a cumulative element to the illustrations, which creates delightfully madcap scenes.
The gently rhyming text never lets the scenes become too scary or intimidating, and the characters’ bedtime adventures are eventually brought to a satisfying end.
Fred Koehler’s highly detailed illustrations capture the scale of the children’s imaginations, and effectively blur the lines between what is real and what is an illusion. This creates a sort of dreamlike quality that beautifully matches the bedtime theme. There’s a cumulative element to the illustrations, which creates delightfully madcap scenes.
November 25, 2017
Tigers, castles, pirates, sea creatures and more fill the imagination of these young adventurers equipped with a flashlight at night. Or is it the power of the flashlight to illuminate the pages of the book they are reading? Not your ordinary bedtime story!
December 4, 2017
This book was incredible! My professor showed it off during class and I thought to myself that I should definitely go read it. The changing world that the flashlight unfolds to the characters in the book is something that I think should have been thought of sooner. I think it is ingenious. The illustrations are the real MVP in this book. It really does a good job of portraying what a child thinks when they play. I love fantasy fiction like this.
December 6, 2017
This brings back my memories of summer evenings chasing friends around the yard. I could feel the cool grass, smell the night, and remember the chill of imagined monsters lurking just beyond the edge of the flashlight's edge!
April 20, 2018
This is a fun book about three kids who use their flashlight outside at night and imagine all kinds of adventures. On one side the image shows that they are in a "safe" backyard, but on the flashlight lit part of the image, you see what the kids are imagining.
Near the end of the book you see the kids huddled up reading adventure books by flashlight.
The illustrations are quite complex, so I would recommend this book for older preschoolers & elementary students.
Kids enjoyed this and voted to give it 5 stars.
Near the end of the book you see the kids huddled up reading adventure books by flashlight.
The illustrations are quite complex, so I would recommend this book for older preschoolers & elementary students.
Kids enjoyed this and voted to give it 5 stars.
September 19, 2017
A book perhaps for an elementary age reader, invites their imagination to run rampant.
September 27, 2017
Give this to children to savor on their own, or read one-on-one. I probably won't use this in story time as the pictures are best for looking at up close. A beautiful take on the imagination and adventure.
October 12, 2017
So creative!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews