THE HOUSE IN THE NIGHT

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Krommes, Beth. 2008. THE HOUSE IN THE NIGHT by Susan Marie Swanson. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0618862447

PLOT SUMMARY:
In this bedtime story, the world is depicted as calm and whimsical. When a family returns home, the child goes to his room where there is a light. He finds a book on his bed and reads as story about a bird flying through the sky. Illustrations show the child on the back of the bird as it soars through the night sky. To conclude, the child is tucked into bed by his mother and enters a peaceful slumber.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Swanson's words carry a very soothing rhythm. She presents the story primarily through short prepositional phrases that build up to a climax. For the second half of the story, she inverts many of the same phrases used during the first half. Using this style, the reader feels as if he is slowly zooming in and out of the story.

The illustrations further complement this technique as broad scenes of rolling hills gradually narrow in focus to the bedroom. In the middle of the Swanson's book, the main character is swept away himself by the book he is reading as he imagines himself as part of the story. Once the character finishes reading his book, the illustrations guide the audience's focus from the bedroom back into the vast night outside. This specific and gradual progression of images adds to the book's comforting nature. THE HOUSE IN THE NIGHT presents the world as orderly and safe.

The illustrations are black and white with certain objects "lit up" in yellow. The "yellow light" leads the reader through the story not only emphasizing key objects but also offering a reassuring light in the darkness. The pictures are expansive compared to the simple text. Thus, the majority of the plot is understood through illustrations.

I do not think the cover does justice to the illustrations inside the book. From the cover, the book seems rather dull based on the lack of color and simplicity title and might not intrigue a young reader to pull it from the shelf. However, once the child opens the book and begins to read, I feel the dream-like images will quickly engage the reader.

AWARDS WON AND REVIEW EXCERPTS:
Caldecott Award
Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Swanson weaves a soothing song that is as luminescent and soulful as the gorgeous illustrations that accompany her words."
Starred review in BOOKLIST: "A beautiful piece of bookmaking that will delight both parents and children."

CONNECTIONS
*Read "This is the Key of the Kingdom" out of the OXFORD NURSERY RHYME BOOK and have the children listen to the rhyme patterns
*Lead a discussion regarding the children's bedtime rituals and encourage them to read a book as part of their routine.
*Gather other books illustrated by Beth Krommes to show the students additional illustrations made crafted through wood engraving/scratchboard
Sidman, Joyce. BUTTEFLY EYES AND OTHER SECRETS OF THE MEADOW. ISBN-13: 978-0618563135
Nicholls, Judith. THE SUN IN ME. ISBN-13: 978-1846861611