Bright Night

Lorie Ann Grover is the author of young adult novels including Hit, which Hypable calls “a powerful book about tragedy and recovery which shows you both sides of the story, for better or worse.” She has authored Loose Threads, a Booklist Top 10 Youth First Novel, and On Pointe, a Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year. As a literacy advocate, she is a co-founder of readergirlz, which was awarded the National Book Foundation’s Innovations in Reading Prize.  Jo Parry was born with a pencil in her hand and was scribbling and painting before she could walk. Her work has spanned the globe and been published across the continents, popping up in the most unexpected places, including Tunisia and on the television show The Office. Creating images for others to enjoy takes center stage in Jo’s life and she considers it an extraordinary privilege.

Grover effectively reduces the Nativity story to quippy rhyming phrases in this padded board book, whose cozy mood is bolstered by Parry's soft, gauzy-looking digital artwork. 'Carry Mary,' reads the opening spread as Joseph leads a donkey down a road as birds, butterflies, and a rabbit dance around the couple. From there, they land in the 'safe place' of the stable, celebrate 'boy joy' when Jesus is born, and enjoy a little 'swaddle, coddle' before visitors arrive, having followed the 'far star' in the night sky. It's a simple, punchy, and jubilant retelling. Ages 4--8.