TONIGHT AND TOMORROW

As he falls asleep, a small boy considers the various objects in his room and how they fit into his day. From the glowing night light to books on his shelf, the child compares how the now dusky objects will appear the next day and what he will do with them: “Next to my nightlight there is a window. At night it’s full of shadows, but tomorrow I will open the curtains and see what the day is like.” The tale concludes with his realization that the faster he falls asleep the quicker the night will be over. Ballard’s (When We Get Home. 1999, etc.) compassionate story addresses the very real anxiety young children often feel once the lights go out. By focusing on the prospect of the next day's activities, the young boy wards off any apprehensions about his dim room. Ballard’s use of color and subtle gradations in hues deftly conveys the waning light. Full-page illustrations depict a portion of the shadowy room while smaller inserts on the facing pages show the same part of the room bathed in sunlight. Cozy scenes depicting the minutiae of a child’s room—right down to the toys spilling out of the toy chest—add a homey, familiar touch. Gently reassuring, this sympathetic bedtime tale will help young readers keep their own nighttime fears at bay. (Picture book. 4-6)