TURN ON THE NIGHT

A little girl falls asleep—clutching her picture book and her stuffed-animal hen—and a joyous, wordless adventure unfolds.

Before the page showing the sleeping, light-skinned girl, there is a double-page spread with a wide expanse of green grass, over which layers of brush-stroked blues show the start of a starry night. There are simple structures: a doghouse with a large tail sticking out, a henhouse with a hen inside, and a turquoise-blue house, where the girl sleeps. Her house has a caribou weathervane. All the animals on that page recur in the next double-page spread: the dog on the book cover; the hen as her toy; the caribou as a lamp. The girl seems to become the dog as a giant, furry form leaves behind an empty bed and leaps out the window in the next tableau. Dog, caribou, and hen move through the darkening night, find a golden orb in the sky, and eventually give it new purpose. There is no danger lurking in this dreamlike tale; all is sweet whimsy. The stylized, brightly colored animals are friendly and cooperative, figuring out together how to access the tantalizing star. It is hard to choose a favorite among the illustrations, which use composition, form, and color to full advantage to animate the three animals and spin a magical tale.

More than a bedtime story: a treat from a masterful artist.