DO YOU KNOW THE DARK?

An appealing sensory exploration of nightfall’s hidden wonders.

MacLean’s spare, rhythmic prose—which asks what happens “in the dark” across various landscapes—creates space for her artwork to breathe and astonish. Mixed-media spreads radiate with jewel-toned colors, including purples, bright greens, and blues that transform darkness from frightening to fascinating. The compositions employ strong visual principles: Horizontal lines in mountain scenes convey stability and peace, while curving forms in underground and underwater sequences create energy and movement. Dark silhouettes in foregrounds—trees, cave formations, a child’s profile—establish a sense of safety and frame the glowing mysteries beyond, making distant wonders feel approachable rather than threatening. The deep blue backgrounds recede comfortingly, while warm accent colors (amber firelight, pink coral polyps) pull focus to specific discoveries. The visual journey progresses from twilight’s familiar shadows through increasingly wondrous nocturnal phenomena—moths transforming, bioluminescence gleaming, northern lights dancing—culminating in a celebration of imagination itself. Text and image work in perfect tandem: Words pose questions; art inspires magical answers. The people depicted vary in skin tone.

A mesmerizing invitation to embrace night’s beauty—great for bedtime shelves and budding naturalists alike.