The House in the Night

First of all, this is a ridiculously beautiful book. I purchased this book in large part because I, the parent, thought it was amazing. The real clincher, however, is that my little guy loves it as much as I do. This book has had such an impact on him that when ever he sees the night sky he points up and says "Starry dark!" This name for the night sky carries over into other books as well, such as another favorite of his, Little Owls Night, where he takes great joy in pointing out the Starry Dark when it appears.

The book is very simple, the story is more poetry than a story, but it makes a great relaxing bedtime book.

Only these pictures are much more beautiful, and the story goes from the cozily domestic out into the solar system, then comes cozily back again to end in bed in a happy home. A comforting book that will surely appeal to children's imagination and sense of adventure as well as their need to feel safe.

Another reviewer has mentioned the similarity of illustrator Beth Krommes' style to the wonderful Wanda Gag (most famous for "Millions of Cats", but also author of one of my mostest favoritest children's books, "The Funny Thing"). I, too, saw the hand of Miss Gag when I looked at these pictures, but I also saw a similarity to the work of Lois Lenski, the illustrator who made the charming pictures for the first four Betsy/Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace. These pictures are truly artistic like Gag's and a little old-fashioned, like Lenski's, and also something all their own.

I absolutely love the medieval-looking suns and moons with their golden color and cheery faces.

I will be adding this book to our personal library.

Sometimes, just sometimes, you want to read a beautiful picture book. Not a pretty picture book or a mildly lovely one or a picture book that will please you the first ten times you read it to a child and then hardly anymore after that. No, I'm talking about a jaw-dropping, kick-you-in-the-pants, douse your cigar hussy of a beautiful picture book. The kind that works against your book-loving instincts, tempting you to rip out the pages and frame them on your wall. That kind of book. The first time I saw an ad for "The House in the Night" by Susan Marie Swanson and Beth Krommes I wanted it. Generally scratchboard art doesn't appeal to me, but there's something different about this title. Gentle bedtime reading, consider this a book that is designed to illuminate a child's dreams.

Inspired by a cumulative poem found in The Oxford Nursery Rhyme Book, Swanson's words are short simple. "Here is the key to the house / In the house burns a light / In that light rests a bed." As we read, a small child places the key on a hook as a dog, a cat, and some kittens mill about. She walks into the room and spots a book on the bed. "In that book flies a bird." As the text grows expansive, discussing the bird's song, the girl imagines taking a trip on its back above the land, "Through the dark", past the moon, and the sun, and the sky. In the end she goes to bed, not far from the key in, "the house in the night, a home full of light." The shape of the story allows it to go from a small intimate story to an exciting flight around the world, and then back to bed where the little girl curls up cozily and falls asleep. It's a tribute to bedtime stories themselves, without ever being blunt about its potential applications.

Last year I fell in love with a different cumulative poem called The Apple Pie That Papa Baked by Lauren Thompson with illustrations by Jonathan Bean. Like this book, "Apple Pie" used the cumulative format to draw back farther and farther, to the point where the story becomes positively cosmic. Here, Swanson's text has a comforting feel to it, helped in no small part by its universal images. She's as good a picture book author as she is partly because her words give an illustrator room to get a little creative.

The first name to pop to mind, even before you open the book, is "Wanda Gag". The illustrator of such storytime classics as Millions of Cats appears to have had a direct influence on Krommes' style. I first discovered Ms. Krommes when she lent her considerable talents to Joyce Sidman's, Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow. She is recognizably the same person who has worked on "The House in the Night" but this particular book feels like someone took a photograph of her earlier work and made it into a negative image. Krommes uses a scratchboard style with watercolor. In fact he only color in this book is the singular yellow of the sun, the moon, the stars, and other key points in the pictures. Individual creatures bear the mark of Gag, particularly Krommes' cats which appear to be a direct ode. But for all her charms, Gag never illustrated a book with as much depth and scope as found in this story. This is a bedtime tale that takes into account the vastness of space and the curve of the landscapes below. And her use of yellow at meticulous moments lends loveliness to images that might have appeared too harsh.

Oddly enough, while Wanda Gag was certainly the first illustrator to come to mind when I read this, the feel of the book reminded me particularly of that wonderful Ann Jonas book Round Trip. There's something about seeing a nightscape in black and white, particularly from a distance, which conjures up similar sensations. "Round Trip" is one of those books that stick with you the rest of your life. "The House in the Night" will go the same route.

The real question: Will the kids dig it? As I've mentioned before, this is a bedtime book. The kind of story you pick up and read when the child wants something to put them to sleep. That isn't to say that they won't also find the pictures engrossing. What "The House in the Night" has in its favor is the ability to stick with a person. Fifty years from now libraries and websites will be filled with queries from people asking, "There's this book I've been trying to find from years. It took place at night and there was yellow . . . it was really gorgeous. Does anyone remember it?" And I have faith that children's librarians will be able to answer these questions readily, keeping the beloved book close at hand. A title that doesn't leave your heart or mind any too soon.

The House in the Night
Introduction
The House in the Night is a children's picture book written by Susan Marie Swanson and illustrated by Beth Krommes. This book takes you through a series of illustrations and minimum statements that tell a story to give order to the universe. This book won the Caldecott Medal in 2009; some say as the result of the skill and style of the illustrator's use of color.
Summary
The book begins with a little girl who receives a key to the house. Throughout the book, each object or statement relates to another. For example, the key to the house; the house in the night. As the story continues, the little girl is shown in different settings such as her house, her room, and her own imagination. The essential message of the book is to reassure children that there is always a light in the dark and that everything has and serves its purpose.
Recommendation
This picture book is an easy read. As a pre-service teacher, I would love to share this book with my students. I would say that this book is most appropriate for the primary grades. You could easily use this book as a read aloud. However, it is also a good book to use for children who are beginning to learn how to read.
This book also helps create and model enthusiasm for reading. The illustrations will make the children eager to read the book or listen to a read aloud.
When using the book for a read aloud, make sure to properly introduce the book and then talk to your students about the meaning of the book. Ask them how it makes them feel to read this book.
Overall, I believe this is a good book to keep in the classroom that children will read.

USF LAE 4414

I saw it in the childrens' award winner books section in a local book store and was immediately taken by it. I purchased it even though my grand daughter was just 15 months at the time. She has responded very well to looking at the pictures in books and having the story told to her for quite some time. Up to that point her favorite bedtime book was Goodnight Moon - again a great picture book for those too young to really understand all the words, and she still loves it too. She is now 20 months and invariably chooses House in The Night first for pre-nap and pre-bedtime soothing and reading. It's not the only one but I can say with confidence this is the one she loves the most. She enthusiastically points out the components of the illustrations when prompted and now answers the questions ie: "Who is giving the key to the girl?" - Daddy, 'Where does the girl put the key when she's finished with it?" - Hook, "Show the hands of the girl holding the book" - she points out fingers and thumbs. We always talk about the dog and kitties and their antics. She loves the sun, moon and stars, etc, and at the end loves the sequence showing the mother coming in to the girl's bedroom, putting the book away, turning off the light and kissing the girl goodnight. She also points out the little family photo hanging on the wall and identifies each of the family members.
It may be that this book works best reading one on one (lap time) rather than in a classroom setting with older children. It is obviously quite interactive. Young children are attracted to black and white contrasts in illustrations so that explains the success of these. There is not one element in the text or illustrations that does not belong or is too much. The more you look, the more you see! I can't recommend highly enough and will be giving as gifts in the future.

Both of my daughters loved this book more than any other (roughly between ages 12 months to 24 months). Perfectly illustrated, you can see it set the imagination on fire, even in the youngest of minds. I want to thank the author and the artist for all the special bedtime stories they've given us and our children.

We recently discovered this delightful book at our local library and I am so excited to have found it. The illustrations are very special - truly lovely and full of little details that small children love to point out. The text is simple but opens the imagination and leaves room for lots of discussion and possibilities for children to make their own connections and suggestions. Wonderful book that is especially good for bedtime.

The 2009 Caldecott Medal Winner is a cumulative poem that comforts and lulls the reader to sleep. From the "key to a house" to a book on a bed, Susan Marie Swanson takes us on a journey to the universe and back that warms and glows. Scratch board illustrations with touches of golden watercolor set the scene masterfully. Based upon "The Oxford Nursery Rhyme Book," published in 1955, this bedtime story will delight children ages 2-5.

I grabbed this book because of the beautiful illustrations. I thought the lack of colors would cause my son to lose interest. I was wrong. He has requested this book every night. He loves to point out all the "other" things in the illustrations, especially the dog, cats, ball, car, moon, sun, and book. While this is currently a library check out book, I think we will be adding it to our library.

This is a stunningly beautiful book and perfect for bedtime. Our baby enjoys examining the pattern and yellow highlights in the illustrations each and every time. Mom and dad love the book too. Wonderful!!!

This is one of the most beautiful picture books of the year. The contrast of the black and yellow throughout the book amplifies the book's theme of the light and comfort that can be found at night. A perfect book to read to a baby or toddler to alleviate their fears of the darkness. Truly a lovely book.

In the vein of stories like Goodnight Moon and This is the House that Jack Built, The House in the Night is a calming sequential story for children to enjoy. This book serves as a perfect bedtime story, lulling children to sleep with its melodious, repetitive words. Preschoolers would love this simple book as a read-aloud, or a book with which to learn to read. Cute, short, and simple, sure to grab and keep a young child's attention! Just as the text carries with it simplicity, so do the illustrations. Everything is done in only two colors, black and gold, with various levels of shading to darken/lighten various areas. The golden areas really jump out at the reader, grabbing their attention immediately.

This will become a classic good night book. The illustrations are wonderful & the story a delight. Each page has treasures to explore.
This book will be on my "buy 10" and give out as presents all year list.

This book has amazing scratch board drawings. I thought the text was very simple. I still enjoyed it very much. I also found an amazing scratch board book that came out the same year called Out of the Nursery, it has funny ryhmes.

Like most of the other current award winners, this book is a derivative adult-pleaser that will bore children(at best)and unsettle them(at worst). Where Good Night Moon's artwork was mellow, this one's art is harsh and alien; where the Napping House's narrative was comfortingly rhythmic and linear, this one is disjointed and unclear. Why is that giant bird taking the girl? Most childrens' lives are fairly chaotic and I think they find structured narrative and familiar colors more calming and comforting. The often-mentioned word 'dark' and heavy use of black ink in the story far outweigh the yellow 'light'.