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La nuit de la fête foraine
As darkness falls on the fairgrounds, the animals venture out of the woods for one magical, memorable night! An exhilarating wordless picture book.
Far from the city, but not quite the countryside, lies a fairground. When night comes and the fair is empty, something unexpected happens. Wild animals emerge from the forest, a brave raccoon pulls a lever, and the roller coasters and rides explode back into bright, neon life. It’s time for the woodland creatures to head to the fair! In a gorgeous wordless picture book, author Gideon Sterer and illustrator Mariachiara Di Giorgio offer an exuberant take on what animals are up to when humans are asleep. Suffused with color and light, the panel illustrations celebrate the inherent humor and joy in deer flying by on chair-swings, a bear winning a stuffed bear, three weasels carrying a soft pretzel, and a badger driving a bumper car. With thrills both spectacular and subtle, Midnight Fair will have readers punching their tickets again and again to revel in this fantastic nocturnal world.
Far from the city, but not quite the countryside, lies a fairground. When night comes and the fair is empty, something unexpected happens. Wild animals emerge from the forest, a brave raccoon pulls a lever, and the roller coasters and rides explode back into bright, neon life. It’s time for the woodland creatures to head to the fair! In a gorgeous wordless picture book, author Gideon Sterer and illustrator Mariachiara Di Giorgio offer an exuberant take on what animals are up to when humans are asleep. Suffused with color and light, the panel illustrations celebrate the inherent humor and joy in deer flying by on chair-swings, a bear winning a stuffed bear, three weasels carrying a soft pretzel, and a badger driving a bumper car. With thrills both spectacular and subtle, Midnight Fair will have readers punching their tickets again and again to revel in this fantastic nocturnal world.
46 pages, Hardcover
First published February 2, 2021
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December 5, 2020
From the comments below you can see that I was contacted by the author who was upset about my review, he has since apologised profusely and says he intended this to be a book about kindness to animals, I believe he did but sadly I feel this is a bad message.
Fish as prizes in fairs is an appalling cruelty, a view which the author shares. I would hate a child to read this and get the idea that they could help a fish in this way too. The best way people can stop this cruel practice is to push for legislation to get it banned. Boycott fairs that use this, let them know why. Even if you take a fish away and try to give it a good environment, chances are the tap water they have been put into will have poisoned them with chlorine if the fright of being hung up in a fair doesn't kill them first. Every fish that is taken away means they will get more because it is making them money. It would be like buying a live lobster in a supermarket to set it free, tempting as it is you would just be creating more demand for cruelty.
My other problem with the message of this goldfish liberation is that you should never introduce a non native species anywhere, I think in some places this would be illegal. Sadly England has virtually no red squirrels left because of the non native grey squirrels that were introduced, they are also threatening our door mice. Goldfish are also a very fragile specie of fish, unlike the more hardy shubunkins you can introduce them to de-chlorinated, established ponds with UV filters, water fountains for oxygen and they will still die because they are very sensitive to change, stress and a change in water temperature. Goldfish treated as fair prizes will almost certainly die.
Below is my original review
This picture book with no text has beautiful illustrations. If it wasn't for one element this would have been a 4 or 5 star and definitely one I would buy myself and would have bought as a gift. The illustrations are beautiful and if his had have had a message that helped animals and the environment it would have been a 5 star read and one I would have wanted to pass on to as many young children as possible.
A funfair closes for the night. As darkness comes, forest creatures come up to the gates and soon they have found a way in. There are beautiful scenes of animals riding in carousels and dodgem cars, eating popcorn and candyfloss and having a great time.
Despite being only just published this book includes a scene where the animals win a goldfish in a bag. I was really surprised and saddened to see this, as there has been much campaigning to bring legislation to stop this cruel and thoughtless act of using a living creature as a prize. The fish that is won in this book is carried about the whole night and the next day the animal that won the fish tips the fish into a lake. Anyone with knowledge of fish will know that they are delicate creatures that are severely effected by temperature change and when introducing a fish to a new pond the bag should be floated for some time in the new habitat so the water temperature can gradually change.
I would hate a child to read this and think that it's okay to casually take a living creature and just tip it into a nearby area of water. I think the story was intending for you to think the fish was helped to freedom but most likely it would have died.
Fish as prizes in fairs is an appalling cruelty, a view which the author shares. I would hate a child to read this and get the idea that they could help a fish in this way too. The best way people can stop this cruel practice is to push for legislation to get it banned. Boycott fairs that use this, let them know why. Even if you take a fish away and try to give it a good environment, chances are the tap water they have been put into will have poisoned them with chlorine if the fright of being hung up in a fair doesn't kill them first. Every fish that is taken away means they will get more because it is making them money. It would be like buying a live lobster in a supermarket to set it free, tempting as it is you would just be creating more demand for cruelty.
My other problem with the message of this goldfish liberation is that you should never introduce a non native species anywhere, I think in some places this would be illegal. Sadly England has virtually no red squirrels left because of the non native grey squirrels that were introduced, they are also threatening our door mice. Goldfish are also a very fragile specie of fish, unlike the more hardy shubunkins you can introduce them to de-chlorinated, established ponds with UV filters, water fountains for oxygen and they will still die because they are very sensitive to change, stress and a change in water temperature. Goldfish treated as fair prizes will almost certainly die.
Below is my original review
This picture book with no text has beautiful illustrations. If it wasn't for one element this would have been a 4 or 5 star and definitely one I would buy myself and would have bought as a gift. The illustrations are beautiful and if his had have had a message that helped animals and the environment it would have been a 5 star read and one I would have wanted to pass on to as many young children as possible.
A funfair closes for the night. As darkness comes, forest creatures come up to the gates and soon they have found a way in. There are beautiful scenes of animals riding in carousels and dodgem cars, eating popcorn and candyfloss and having a great time.
Despite being only just published this book includes a scene where the animals win a goldfish in a bag. I was really surprised and saddened to see this, as there has been much campaigning to bring legislation to stop this cruel and thoughtless act of using a living creature as a prize. The fish that is won in this book is carried about the whole night and the next day the animal that won the fish tips the fish into a lake. Anyone with knowledge of fish will know that they are delicate creatures that are severely effected by temperature change and when introducing a fish to a new pond the bag should be floated for some time in the new habitat so the water temperature can gradually change.
I would hate a child to read this and think that it's okay to casually take a living creature and just tip it into a nearby area of water. I think the story was intending for you to think the fish was helped to freedom but most likely it would have died.
January 14, 2022
Midnight fair is a wordless book. There is a story, but I think it’s weakness is it doesn’t follow a main character. The protagonist is a group of forest animals and we follow all of them. So instead of this being a story, this is an event and we see if from multiple perspectives.
The artwork is beautiful, very pastel and soft with a great use of color and light.
The carnival is in town and after it closes for the night a group of animals go to the circus and have the night of their lives.
It’s very cute and I think young kids will love it, but I also think the story could have been more focused.
The artwork is beautiful, very pastel and soft with a great use of color and light.
The carnival is in town and after it closes for the night a group of animals go to the circus and have the night of their lives.
It’s very cute and I think young kids will love it, but I also think the story could have been more focused.
December 29, 2020
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
In case you missed it in the blurb, this book is wordless, it is filled to the brim with glorious illustrations that bring the tale to life.
The story is one of a fairground outside of a city where every day the animals see the humans enjoying themselves and decide that they would like to have some fun too. One night when all the people have left they head to the fair and enjoy the delights of the food and the rides, that is until a security guard comes along, but will he spot who is playing at the fair?
The book is quite dark in colour as the story is set at night-time. The animals including a bear, rabbits, deer, raccoon, cat, fox, and many many more, watch for all the people heading home from the fair waiting for their turn to enjoy themselves. The book doesn’t state where the fair is but judging by one of the stalls being ‘cotton candy’ and the price in dollars I can only presume it is in America.
I enjoyed seeing the animals having a ride on the teacups, swings, and pirate ship amongst other amusement rides, plus munching on the confectionary and hot dogs. They certainly look like they are enjoying themselves.
I can see children wanting to ‘read’ this picture book over and over again making up their own story to go with it each time.
In case you missed it in the blurb, this book is wordless, it is filled to the brim with glorious illustrations that bring the tale to life.
The story is one of a fairground outside of a city where every day the animals see the humans enjoying themselves and decide that they would like to have some fun too. One night when all the people have left they head to the fair and enjoy the delights of the food and the rides, that is until a security guard comes along, but will he spot who is playing at the fair?
The book is quite dark in colour as the story is set at night-time. The animals including a bear, rabbits, deer, raccoon, cat, fox, and many many more, watch for all the people heading home from the fair waiting for their turn to enjoy themselves. The book doesn’t state where the fair is but judging by one of the stalls being ‘cotton candy’ and the price in dollars I can only presume it is in America.
I enjoyed seeing the animals having a ride on the teacups, swings, and pirate ship amongst other amusement rides, plus munching on the confectionary and hot dogs. They certainly look like they are enjoying themselves.
I can see children wanting to ‘read’ this picture book over and over again making up their own story to go with it each time.
March 4, 2021
The trick with any wordless book lies in how well it conveys information. Ask yourself the following question: When you finish reading the story, did you miss having words? If so then I don’t think that particular wordless book did its job well. Decoding the images in such books can be enjoyable, absolutely, but the best wordless titles are the ones that tamp down on confusion, offering the reader a plunge into storytelling beyond the written word. And yet wordless books must continually justify their own existence. No words? Then what’s the point? Never mind that they’re marvelous tools for emerging readers or readers that don’t speak the language. Their sheer universality is their allure. I’m sure that somewhere out there there’s a library dedicated entirely to wordless texts. If such a place exists, I hope that when they receive their copy of The Midnight Fair they put it in a spot of great honor. This book is an utter joy. One of those titles that lives up to, and then proceeds to exceed, the hype. Heck, I’ll say it. One of the best wordless books I’ve ever read. Full stop. Period.
The fair has come. During the day, people enjoy the rides, the food, the whole experience. But when the last of the people have left and the place is locked up tight for the night, that’s when the party really gets started. Out of the woods comes a whole host of animals. With the aid of two adept raccoons, the fair is open for business once more. Paying with acorns, flowers, and whatever else passes for currency in the natural kingdom, the animals indulge. They win prizes at games, try different kinds of rides, and generally have a high old time. Soon, though, the dawn begins to break and though they clean up after themselves, it doesn’t take long to spot what they left behind.
One element that I could not help but notice was the fact that Ms. Di Giorgio is of Italian birth. And as her little bio tells us, she splits her time between Rome and Paris (I weep for her). This would not be a particularly pertinent detail were it not for two things. One, it means that she is ineligible for consideration for a Caldecott Award. Two, her wild animals are not our wild animals. Often, I have noticed that when picture books are imported from other countries, the squirrels are always a dead giveaway. Folks like the German artist Sebastian Meschenmoser, for example, have a fondness for red squirrels rather than our own Eastern gray squirrels. In the case of Ms. Di Giorgio, this book is not an import, but her frame of reference would still be Euro-centric. I was pleased to note, though, that this is not something you’re going to pick up on very often. Yes, the squirrels are red squirrels, but they’re not abundant. And some animals we never see here are present like wild boars, hedgehogs, and badgers, but it’s not overt. Children from any number of nations may be able to imagine this scene happening in their own towns. Read this book enough times and you may even begin to recognize the animal characters. They repeat. You just have to quick enough to notice. For example, I took a particular pleasure in seeing how many times I could spot the wolf with the goldfish in a baggie.
The thing that I return to in this book, over and over again, is the sheer beauty of Di Giorgio’s center of focus. Near the beginning of the book is a single panel of popcorn tossed against a background of colorful lights. The popcorn is crisp and clear, while the lights remain a gentle blur. They’re the spots of light you see out of your car windows on rainy nights. Circular points of color, popping against the black of night. What I like so much about this shot is that it’s an introduction to the rest of the book. Di Giorgio’s ability to convey light at night is astounding. Whether it’s the neon red of the “Popcorn Cotton Candy” sign or silhouetted animals against blurred moving carnival lights, Di Giorgio almost looks as though she’s attempting to show the greatest number of types of lights at night possible. The medium she’s working in is watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil, and the end result is that she’s so good that you can distinguish the difference between twilight and pre-dawn light in the same way a sunset and a sunrise look different.
But let’s double back a second here and look at how one makes a wordless picture book. Unsurprisingly, wordless books owe much of their existence to an increased comfort (at least on the part of Americans) with comics. Sequential art is sequential art, after all. And sometimes, to convey your story most effectively, you need to pull in some panels. Di Giorgio is particularly good at panels, actually. She uses them to comic or dramatic effect, depending on the situation. Near the end of the book there’s this marvelous bit of storytelling involving the man responsible for closing up and reopening the fairgrounds. He walks in, whistling (one of the few speech balloons in the whole book, but it’s there) and suddenly his eyes cut to the right. There, on the counters, are the nuts, berries, flowers, feathers, leaves, and other forms of payment the animals left. We get a shot through the chain link fence of the man, mouth slightly agape, looking at what is past the fence. Turn the page and you are rewarded with this two-page spread of the mist rising before a forest, the sun just beginning to light up the trees, which are strong and dark and resolute. It’s not the only breathtaking image in the book, but it is the one I could stare at the longest. So Di Giorgio is taking comic and cinematic shots and weaving them into a picture book structure. It’s unreal how good she is at it too.
Now there was a small brouhaha involving the ending of this book, so I want to touch on that for a second. This whole adventure ends, literally, with the gentlest of plops. The wolf that won the goldfish isn’t going to bed like the rest of them. Instead, it takes the bag with the fish to the river. There, we see it tear into the plastic with its teeth. The clear indication here is that it’s looking for a tasty pre-dawn snack. Instead the final shot of the book is yet another two-page spread, only this time with the wolf gently dropping the fish into the water. Now an objection was raised to this image on Goodreads, pointing out that this is exactly how you get invasive species in waterways and the book wasn’t setting a very good example. This is a hard point to contest since, technically, it is absolutely correct. Folks that drop their pets into the wild have a habit of essentially ruining the wild for the native species. That said, children’s books are chock full of beautiful moments you wouldn’t actually want to enact in real life. The last book I reviewed, for example, contains a beautiful poem about a girl who would like to release all her birthday balloons into the sky to celebrate the wind’s birthday. Is that a good idea? No! But it’s a metaphor, in the same way that the wolf freeing the goldfish is a metaphor. These are actions you can tell your kid not to emulate, while at the same time appreciating the message being sent. That said, I understand how this image might jar some people.
Reading this book feels like an eternal game of “Did you notice?” Example: Did you notice that the doe is always giving someone the side-eye? Did you notice that when the sun set it was on the far side of the right-hand page but that when it rose it came up on the left-hand side? Did you notice the saga of the stuffed bear that the bears won? But like all good things, at some point you have to put it down. I’ve seen traveling fairs portrayed in picture books before, but nothing I’ve ever seen has really captured the feel you get when you’re there quite like this. Expert storytelling mixed with gorgeous art makes this book stand out from the crowd. Come one. Come all. Come take a deep dive into this beautiful wordless world.
For ages 3-6.
The fair has come. During the day, people enjoy the rides, the food, the whole experience. But when the last of the people have left and the place is locked up tight for the night, that’s when the party really gets started. Out of the woods comes a whole host of animals. With the aid of two adept raccoons, the fair is open for business once more. Paying with acorns, flowers, and whatever else passes for currency in the natural kingdom, the animals indulge. They win prizes at games, try different kinds of rides, and generally have a high old time. Soon, though, the dawn begins to break and though they clean up after themselves, it doesn’t take long to spot what they left behind.
One element that I could not help but notice was the fact that Ms. Di Giorgio is of Italian birth. And as her little bio tells us, she splits her time between Rome and Paris (I weep for her). This would not be a particularly pertinent detail were it not for two things. One, it means that she is ineligible for consideration for a Caldecott Award. Two, her wild animals are not our wild animals. Often, I have noticed that when picture books are imported from other countries, the squirrels are always a dead giveaway. Folks like the German artist Sebastian Meschenmoser, for example, have a fondness for red squirrels rather than our own Eastern gray squirrels. In the case of Ms. Di Giorgio, this book is not an import, but her frame of reference would still be Euro-centric. I was pleased to note, though, that this is not something you’re going to pick up on very often. Yes, the squirrels are red squirrels, but they’re not abundant. And some animals we never see here are present like wild boars, hedgehogs, and badgers, but it’s not overt. Children from any number of nations may be able to imagine this scene happening in their own towns. Read this book enough times and you may even begin to recognize the animal characters. They repeat. You just have to quick enough to notice. For example, I took a particular pleasure in seeing how many times I could spot the wolf with the goldfish in a baggie.
The thing that I return to in this book, over and over again, is the sheer beauty of Di Giorgio’s center of focus. Near the beginning of the book is a single panel of popcorn tossed against a background of colorful lights. The popcorn is crisp and clear, while the lights remain a gentle blur. They’re the spots of light you see out of your car windows on rainy nights. Circular points of color, popping against the black of night. What I like so much about this shot is that it’s an introduction to the rest of the book. Di Giorgio’s ability to convey light at night is astounding. Whether it’s the neon red of the “Popcorn Cotton Candy” sign or silhouetted animals against blurred moving carnival lights, Di Giorgio almost looks as though she’s attempting to show the greatest number of types of lights at night possible. The medium she’s working in is watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil, and the end result is that she’s so good that you can distinguish the difference between twilight and pre-dawn light in the same way a sunset and a sunrise look different.
But let’s double back a second here and look at how one makes a wordless picture book. Unsurprisingly, wordless books owe much of their existence to an increased comfort (at least on the part of Americans) with comics. Sequential art is sequential art, after all. And sometimes, to convey your story most effectively, you need to pull in some panels. Di Giorgio is particularly good at panels, actually. She uses them to comic or dramatic effect, depending on the situation. Near the end of the book there’s this marvelous bit of storytelling involving the man responsible for closing up and reopening the fairgrounds. He walks in, whistling (one of the few speech balloons in the whole book, but it’s there) and suddenly his eyes cut to the right. There, on the counters, are the nuts, berries, flowers, feathers, leaves, and other forms of payment the animals left. We get a shot through the chain link fence of the man, mouth slightly agape, looking at what is past the fence. Turn the page and you are rewarded with this two-page spread of the mist rising before a forest, the sun just beginning to light up the trees, which are strong and dark and resolute. It’s not the only breathtaking image in the book, but it is the one I could stare at the longest. So Di Giorgio is taking comic and cinematic shots and weaving them into a picture book structure. It’s unreal how good she is at it too.
Now there was a small brouhaha involving the ending of this book, so I want to touch on that for a second. This whole adventure ends, literally, with the gentlest of plops. The wolf that won the goldfish isn’t going to bed like the rest of them. Instead, it takes the bag with the fish to the river. There, we see it tear into the plastic with its teeth. The clear indication here is that it’s looking for a tasty pre-dawn snack. Instead the final shot of the book is yet another two-page spread, only this time with the wolf gently dropping the fish into the water. Now an objection was raised to this image on Goodreads, pointing out that this is exactly how you get invasive species in waterways and the book wasn’t setting a very good example. This is a hard point to contest since, technically, it is absolutely correct. Folks that drop their pets into the wild have a habit of essentially ruining the wild for the native species. That said, children’s books are chock full of beautiful moments you wouldn’t actually want to enact in real life. The last book I reviewed, for example, contains a beautiful poem about a girl who would like to release all her birthday balloons into the sky to celebrate the wind’s birthday. Is that a good idea? No! But it’s a metaphor, in the same way that the wolf freeing the goldfish is a metaphor. These are actions you can tell your kid not to emulate, while at the same time appreciating the message being sent. That said, I understand how this image might jar some people.
Reading this book feels like an eternal game of “Did you notice?” Example: Did you notice that the doe is always giving someone the side-eye? Did you notice that when the sun set it was on the far side of the right-hand page but that when it rose it came up on the left-hand side? Did you notice the saga of the stuffed bear that the bears won? But like all good things, at some point you have to put it down. I’ve seen traveling fairs portrayed in picture books before, but nothing I’ve ever seen has really captured the feel you get when you’re there quite like this. Expert storytelling mixed with gorgeous art makes this book stand out from the crowd. Come one. Come all. Come take a deep dive into this beautiful wordless world.
For ages 3-6.
April 24, 2021
3.75 stars, wordless and beautiful. Even though, I found this story enchanting, it has a dark side. Checkout this review from Hilary to learn more.
May 7, 2021
This book has some beautiful, colorful waterdrawings. I liked how the colors came alive. I do have to say, I missed the words in this story.
December 23, 2020
Wow, the art is amazing. The perspective in some of the pictures. The story is so clever making this a very special book. The Midnight Fair will become a favorite. Wonderful!
March 5, 2022
***Reviewed for Books for Keeps***
There is always something liberating and exciting about wordless picturebooks. The gap between what is represented and the meaning-making process opens up just enough for readers to invite a richness of interpretation. Transforming Sterer’s narrative into a wordless tale, Di Giorgio, creator of the highly acclaimed Professional Crocodile, presents us with the story of a troupe of animals and their nighttime excursions into an empty fairground.
With a beautiful pairing of endpapers to open and close the narrative, the story begins with the arrival of a travelling funfair and ends with its departure. In the foreground, sheltered by the shadows of trees, is a small gathering of animals who seem concerned with other matters save for a curious bear cub intrigued by the arrival of humans and their contraptions. Like a slow-rolling camera, the dedication and title page reveal people erecting tents and rides in preparation for eventual attendees. More animals watch on. Why is it that we are positioned alongside these animals and not with our fellow humans? The answer comes when, at the end of the evening’s amusement, a lone attendant closes down the fair, locks the gates and heads for home. A gathering of animals tentatively approach.
With the help of a pair of crafty racoons, the funfair is suddenly brought to life. As if casting off their ‘wildness’ for one magical evening, the animals, now anthropomorphised, do everything the humans did earlier: buy popcorn, doughnuts, sweets and take part in the games and attractions, chase sugar-addled cubs and win huge cuddly versions of themselves. A young wolf cub, who looks slightly befuddled when it wins a goldfish, is particularly humorous, and a bearer of a poignant message for later.
As the evening continues, wild boar and wolves spin joyously in teacup rides, hares and deer rush around on roller-coasters. From carousels (animals riding animals comes across as delightfully funny) to chair-o-planes, big wheels to shooting galleries, the animals delight in the activities. There’s much for the observant reader to notice and an invitation for new stories to be discovered with repeated readings. With the arrival of dawn, the animals quickly shut down the rides, clean up their mess and leave just before the owner returns: the only sign of activity is a curious collection of nuts and seeds; the animal's payment for the night’s fun. As the animal guests return to the wild and their previous nature, a solitary wolf cub releases their bagged goldfish into a river that leads out into the sea.
This is a witty, wordless escapade. Di Giorgio perfectly captures the dizzy, bright joy of being at the funfair, exquisitely portrayed through the animals’ movement and expressions: a remarkable feat in and of itself. Children will love to return to the evening’s dreamy sense of mystery and fun, and enjoy spotting recurring animals and humorous moments that occur throughout. For me, it was a family of stoats laughing uncontrollably at a gurning wolf who has stuck its head through a wooden Sproftacchel. A book perfect for sharing.
There is always something liberating and exciting about wordless picturebooks. The gap between what is represented and the meaning-making process opens up just enough for readers to invite a richness of interpretation. Transforming Sterer’s narrative into a wordless tale, Di Giorgio, creator of the highly acclaimed Professional Crocodile, presents us with the story of a troupe of animals and their nighttime excursions into an empty fairground.
With a beautiful pairing of endpapers to open and close the narrative, the story begins with the arrival of a travelling funfair and ends with its departure. In the foreground, sheltered by the shadows of trees, is a small gathering of animals who seem concerned with other matters save for a curious bear cub intrigued by the arrival of humans and their contraptions. Like a slow-rolling camera, the dedication and title page reveal people erecting tents and rides in preparation for eventual attendees. More animals watch on. Why is it that we are positioned alongside these animals and not with our fellow humans? The answer comes when, at the end of the evening’s amusement, a lone attendant closes down the fair, locks the gates and heads for home. A gathering of animals tentatively approach.
With the help of a pair of crafty racoons, the funfair is suddenly brought to life. As if casting off their ‘wildness’ for one magical evening, the animals, now anthropomorphised, do everything the humans did earlier: buy popcorn, doughnuts, sweets and take part in the games and attractions, chase sugar-addled cubs and win huge cuddly versions of themselves. A young wolf cub, who looks slightly befuddled when it wins a goldfish, is particularly humorous, and a bearer of a poignant message for later.
As the evening continues, wild boar and wolves spin joyously in teacup rides, hares and deer rush around on roller-coasters. From carousels (animals riding animals comes across as delightfully funny) to chair-o-planes, big wheels to shooting galleries, the animals delight in the activities. There’s much for the observant reader to notice and an invitation for new stories to be discovered with repeated readings. With the arrival of dawn, the animals quickly shut down the rides, clean up their mess and leave just before the owner returns: the only sign of activity is a curious collection of nuts and seeds; the animal's payment for the night’s fun. As the animal guests return to the wild and their previous nature, a solitary wolf cub releases their bagged goldfish into a river that leads out into the sea.
This is a witty, wordless escapade. Di Giorgio perfectly captures the dizzy, bright joy of being at the funfair, exquisitely portrayed through the animals’ movement and expressions: a remarkable feat in and of itself. Children will love to return to the evening’s dreamy sense of mystery and fun, and enjoy spotting recurring animals and humorous moments that occur throughout. For me, it was a family of stoats laughing uncontrollably at a gurning wolf who has stuck its head through a wooden Sproftacchel. A book perfect for sharing.
October 16, 2022
Carnegie. I can see why, but it really didn't do much for me. I don't like supporting the idea of winning animals as prizes, even goldfish. I don't believe that a fox would let a goldfish go, or that the animals could do Peaceable Kingdom, or that they can walk on two legs, sit on rides' seats, throw balls, etc. At least they weren't wearing clothes. Pictures dim, and so hard to tell if there was sufficient detail to please me (I don't think so).
April 11, 2021
A wordless picture book depicting a group of forest animals entering a human's fair after closing; they carouse, clean-up, "pay" their fare, and slip back off into the wild.
The pictures are gorgeous. But other than one compassionate story line (fox & goldfish, captive to free) the story itself didn't grab me. I wouldn't enjoy talking this one through with a child.
The pictures are gorgeous. But other than one compassionate story line (fox & goldfish, captive to free) the story itself didn't grab me. I wouldn't enjoy talking this one through with a child.
June 13, 2021
When the fair closes down for the night, the local wildlife partakes in all of the joys, food and fun of the fair. From the rollercoasters to the games, the woodland animals take over. However, when the Fair Groundskeeper returns at Dawn, the animals must clean up their mess and leave everything...except their ticket payments, without a trace of having been at the Midnight Fair.
In this wordless picture book, with BEAUTIFUL illustrations by Mariachiara Di Giorgio, between the animals and their food and fun, its easy to be swept away in their night of fun.
While some may criticize the book for its use of animals eating human junk food and humans taking over aka deforestation, the books' focus is on the FUN of the fair, the imagery and sensory thoughts that will fill the readers' head without so much as a word spoken, and how they co-habit (in a sense). It also opens up endless questions and conversations including what flavor of ice cream would a bear eat? Are nocturnal animals afraid of haunted houses? what is your favorite theme park ride? What animal would you ride on the carousel?'
One of my favorite moments is towards the end (but I can't tell you..) something involving a wolf...
While we can't wait to go back to theme parks, carnivals, and fairs, this book is the perfect read in the meantime.
In this wordless picture book, with BEAUTIFUL illustrations by Mariachiara Di Giorgio, between the animals and their food and fun, its easy to be swept away in their night of fun.
While some may criticize the book for its use of animals eating human junk food and humans taking over aka deforestation, the books' focus is on the FUN of the fair, the imagery and sensory thoughts that will fill the readers' head without so much as a word spoken, and how they co-habit (in a sense). It also opens up endless questions and conversations including what flavor of ice cream would a bear eat? Are nocturnal animals afraid of haunted houses? what is your favorite theme park ride? What animal would you ride on the carousel?'
One of my favorite moments is towards the end (but I can't tell you..) something involving a wolf...
While we can't wait to go back to theme parks, carnivals, and fairs, this book is the perfect read in the meantime.
May 28, 2021
Beautiful and cinematic, The Midnight Fair, tells a narrative of wild animals enjoying a fairground after it has closed for the night. This review is in response to some of the other reviews I’ve read.
Of course goldfish shouldn’t be given as prizes at fairs, and yes, releasing them into the wild isn’t always the best thing to do. But let’s not take this book too literally. The author believes that goldfish should not be given as prizes as the fox releases it. For me, the core message of kindness and freedom far overrides anything else. Let’s give our young people the credit they deserve, they’re more than able to take onboard these messages without taking them too literally.
It would make a wonderful text to share and discuss with others about everything being said. Consideration must be given to the points being raised, but I don’t believe in the slightest this book would have a negative impact.
Of course goldfish shouldn’t be given as prizes at fairs, and yes, releasing them into the wild isn’t always the best thing to do. But let’s not take this book too literally. The author believes that goldfish should not be given as prizes as the fox releases it. For me, the core message of kindness and freedom far overrides anything else. Let’s give our young people the credit they deserve, they’re more than able to take onboard these messages without taking them too literally.
It would make a wonderful text to share and discuss with others about everything being said. Consideration must be given to the points being raised, but I don’t believe in the slightest this book would have a negative impact.
April 18, 2021
#54 in my 365 Kids Books challenge. For a fuller explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia You can see all the books on their own shelf
Lovely, sweet, funny. Just the thing for fans of anthropomorphized critters in children's stories, which is happily a lot of them. Wordless books well done are awesome, and this one is very well done. As Betsy Bird pointed out: the art is amazing. This is, I believe, the first time I have ever seen a separate author and illustrator listed on a wordless book, but it makes sense.
Library copy
Lovely, sweet, funny. Just the thing for fans of anthropomorphized critters in children's stories, which is happily a lot of them. Wordless books well done are awesome, and this one is very well done. As Betsy Bird pointed out: the art is amazing. This is, I believe, the first time I have ever seen a separate author and illustrator listed on a wordless book, but it makes sense.
Library copy
January 7, 2021
When the people are away, the animals will play... Creatures of the forest wait patiently for the humans to go home from the carnival set up in the meadow. Once the coast is clear, it's party time! From burly bears to baby bunnies, critters big, small, short, and tall dine on delicious fair food and hop on thrill rides of all kinds! The Midnight Fair has some of the most mesmerizing illustrations I've ever seen in a picture book-- the atmosphere, the colors, and the wonderful expressions on every animal's face are just a few of my top favorite things to point out. Words aren't needed to convey the excitement of this special night that each fuzzy friend will remember in their hearts forever.
December 27, 2020
I bought this book off of the cover and IT IS PHENOMENAL. The art is breathtaking and it asks us to consider animals as peers. As an animal lover and late night explorer myself I couldn't be more thrilled with the combination. Highly recommended.
December 24, 2020
This book is a feast for the eyes. Mariachiara Di Giorgio's illustrations are amazing, I can almost feel transported into the book. Very remarkable.
December 30, 2020
A beautiful wordless picture book with an imaginative storyline. The illustrations are fantastic. Kids will enjoy it!
March 8, 2021
Amazingly, lovingly, surprisingly, beautifully illustrated. Level of detail is astounding and fully appreciated. I’m imagining all the conversations to be had. A must buy for anyone.
January 23, 2021
Sarà che amo le illustrazioni di Mariachiara Di Giorgio, e quindi sono di parte, ma questo libro è per me stupendo. E' a metà tra una denuncia e una piccola rivincita, una storia di fantasia e quello che ci immaginiamo succeda nella realtà, quando non guardiamo.
Dalle parole di Giovanna Zoboli, sul blog della casa editrice:
''Parla del mondo animale e quello dell’infanzia, un patto per cui i bambini sanno che gli animali fanno, nelle storie, proprio quello che farebbero loro, se fossero animali e abitassero in un libro, poiché è molto bello, molto avventuroso e misterioso e dà un brivido di eccitazione immaginare di essere libero come un animale sotto un cielo pieno di stelle. A mezzanotte racconta anche di tante soglie: quella fra il mistero della notte e il mondo delle luci umane, quella fra lo spazio naturale e quello urbano, quella fra la libertà e le regole, quella fra l’età adulta e l’età infantile, quella fra il rumore e il silenzio, il tempo della festa e quello della solitudine, la realtà e l’immaginazione.''
Dalle parole di Giovanna Zoboli, sul blog della casa editrice:
''Parla del mondo animale e quello dell’infanzia, un patto per cui i bambini sanno che gli animali fanno, nelle storie, proprio quello che farebbero loro, se fossero animali e abitassero in un libro, poiché è molto bello, molto avventuroso e misterioso e dà un brivido di eccitazione immaginare di essere libero come un animale sotto un cielo pieno di stelle. A mezzanotte racconta anche di tante soglie: quella fra il mistero della notte e il mondo delle luci umane, quella fra lo spazio naturale e quello urbano, quella fra la libertà e le regole, quella fra l’età adulta e l’età infantile, quella fra il rumore e il silenzio, il tempo della festa e quello della solitudine, la realtà e l’immaginazione.''
December 1, 2021
A group of woodland animals makes their way into a fairground after hours in this beautiful wordless picture book. I loved seeing the exuberance the animals showed as they rode on the rides and played the carnival games and ate the fair treats. There was something very touching about seeing the animals leaving their own form of payment for their time on the fairgrounds.
A joyful adventure.
A joyful adventure.
May 14, 2021
A wordless book that excites the imagination of children. Just imagine, if you would, the "fair" has come to town with all the excitement and glitze, bright lights and sweet goodies, the anticipation and the fun. Then imagine there is a forest abutting the open field where the "fair" stands in all its splendor and glory.
And imagine, if you would, forest creatures large and small, peering from the dense bushes and trees and watching all the activity, lights, fun, food, fabulous doings that the "fair" is to humans.
Then in the late night hours, the fair closes. The people go home. No human is around. And then...... the forest creatures begin to enjoy themselves.
What a fun and imaginative book for you to sit and ponder and exclaim about with your youngster!
I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.
And imagine, if you would, forest creatures large and small, peering from the dense bushes and trees and watching all the activity, lights, fun, food, fabulous doings that the "fair" is to humans.
Then in the late night hours, the fair closes. The people go home. No human is around. And then...... the forest creatures begin to enjoy themselves.
What a fun and imaginative book for you to sit and ponder and exclaim about with your youngster!
I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.
August 12, 2021
The Midnight Fair by Gideon Sterer, illustrated by Mariachiara Di Giorgio, is a wordless picture book, presented in a comics-style layout, that unfurls a fantastical story featuring woodland creatures and their stupendous nighttime adventures at a traveling carnival. Truly stunning, with magnificent illustrative details, this is not to be missed.
January 24, 2021
In this superb wordless picture book with glorious, vibrant illustrations, a traveling carnival arrives and sets up near the woods, attracting the attention of curious, mischievous animals that visit after the people leave and thoroughly enjoy the concessions, games, and rides.
April 14, 2021
My girls and I loved this whimsical picture book of what happens after hours at the fair when the animals come to visit. Super cute and sweet. We love what they left at the entrance in lieu of money too.
January 17, 2022
The Midnight Fair is a wordless picture book that takes us on a journey through a fairground at night. The story was confusing and the illustrations were not clear―they were blurred or too dark.
September 23, 2023
Herbst pur! 🍁 Ein wunderschönes Buch, was ganz ohne Worte auskommt und dabei trotzdem eine süße Geschichte erzählt. Es gab so viel zu entdecken 💕
June 21, 2025
Whimsical and gorgeous. This book so perfectly captures the magic of a late night at the fair. With a few slight differences…
February 23, 2023
A picture book with no words and no main character(s)... didn't work for me.
November 20, 2020
Ik heb een zwak voor mooie prentenboeken. Nou, dit is er een!
March 23, 2021
This wordless picture book tells the story of a county fair set up at the edge of a woods. From the woods, animals peek out at the lights and sounds of the fair as it is built and then filled with activity and people. At night, when the people leave, it’s time for the animals to have some fun. The raccoons sneak in a break in the fence and throw on the electricity. Soon the games, rides and food are open for business with payment in acorns, rocks and leaves. The animals ride the rides, staff the booths, share snacks and have a great time until dawn breaks. They tidy up and head back to the woods, but the surprised man who opens the fair finds plenty of evidence that something happened that night.
This book is so lovely. It takes the shared experience of a county fair for humans and turns it into something strange and wondrous. There are so many moments caught in the images here: a porcupine covered in sweets, a fawn managing to ride a carousel horse, a rabbit whizzing by on the swing ride, and a bear cub buying ice cream with acorns. One after another, the images are immediately iconic and touching without being saccharine. The golden light of the fair lights turns everything magical, just as it does when you go to a fair in person.
This visit to the fair is one that everyone should take, even if you don’t care for the rides. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
This book is so lovely. It takes the shared experience of a county fair for humans and turns it into something strange and wondrous. There are so many moments caught in the images here: a porcupine covered in sweets, a fawn managing to ride a carousel horse, a rabbit whizzing by on the swing ride, and a bear cub buying ice cream with acorns. One after another, the images are immediately iconic and touching without being saccharine. The golden light of the fair lights turns everything magical, just as it does when you go to a fair in person.
This visit to the fair is one that everyone should take, even if you don’t care for the rides. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
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