BANSCH, Helga. At Night. tr. from German. illus. by Helga Bansch. 41p. Eerdmans. Aug. 2016. Tr $14.99. ISBN 9780802854711.

PreS –Because bedtime leads to separation for many children, they resist it mightily. This Austrian import offers an antidote, presenting a nocturnal world in which curling up to sleep connects kids to other creatures in settings both wondrous and whimsical. Mixed-media collages in a cozy format (7” x 7”) depict slumbering animals, one per page: “At night, the elephant lies in the tall grass,/the bird dreams in her airy nest,/and the cat purrs behind the warm stove.” The story opens with a black sky, which provides a high-contrast background for the classical structure on the horizon and the snoozing pachyderm and red flowers in the foreground. Each textured, artfully designed composition comprises 60 percent of a spread, with much to discover. Outside the primary narrative, something unexpected occurs in the white space, e.g., ducklings snatch the dog’s bowl, repurposing it as a bed. The spherical shape of the moon (shown waxing and waning throughout the tale) is picked up in an orange-red star-dotted ball that rolls through the book offering companionship and comfort. This detail and the sonorous language contribute to the lulling effect. An eclipse divides the story in half, at which point readers flip the book for the “but sometimes” portion. In this alternate universe, the elephant is draped over a nest, the rabbit hangs upside down in a cave, and Manu, the protagonist, floats on a cloud. VERDICT The concept, humor, and scenes brimming with personality justify repeated readings—well beyond bedtime.–Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library

This review was published in the School Library Journal January 2017 issue.