The Dark Is For

K-Gr 6–With gentle prose, Kohuth shines light on the beauty of darkness. This is as much a celebration of nature as it is of the special gifts in the darkness. Each vignette offers a poetic reflection: an owl takes flight, and “the dark is for flying.” A butterfly transforms, and “the dark is for growing.” A mother tells stories, because “the dark is for storytelling.” Derby (Outside In) uses soft watercolor illustrations to complement the quiet mood of the book with muted tones touched with glimmers of light. While this works beautifully as a bedtime story, the carefully crafted poems also invite reflection and discussion with readers of all ages. Each poem could stand alone and lead to class discussions of what other things in the night fly, grow, listen and shine. Bookended by a sunset at the opening and a sunrise at the end, the book closes with the reassuring message that “the dark is for bringing tomorrow.”