Night

November 15, 2024
Jumbe draws from her childhood in Malawi for this fable about the importance of night and day. Throughout the savanna, people and animals rejoice in the day: Turtle sits on a log warmed by the sunlight, monkeys pick ripe mangoes from trees to throw at Grandpa Rhino, and elephants play in the cool waters of the river. Young Alekachawo and her baby sister also enjoy the sun from their small mud hut, but as night falls, the animals complain of the cold and the lack of sunlight, which frustrates the Dark. Bright and colorful artwork anthropomorphizes the Dark as a woman dressed in a long, flowing, shimmering cloak of nighttime. Disappointed at being taken for granted, she calls it a day, literally taking away all darkness and leaving only the light. At first the animals cheer; the simple, cartoonish illustrations convey their glee. But eventually, they grow tired of constant day. Savvy readers will recognize how easily an ecosystem can be disturbed by a lack of nighttime; so do Chawo and her little sister, who take it upon themselves to journey to convince the Dark to return. While the rather sparse Photoshop art sometimes leaves much to the imagination, the story itself unravels with the thoughtful wisdom and familiarity of an African proverb. Human characters are Black. An easy bedtime tale with a special affection for nighttime. (glossary of words in Chichewa)(Picture book. 4-8)

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January 1, 2025
Grades K-2 Set in the beauty of a Malawi landscape, this picture-book fable from skilled debut creators explores the balance between day and night. When the people--both animals and a young girl and her baby sister--glory in the pleasures of daytime but complain when things turn cold and dark, the sympathetic goddess of the Dark removes night from their world. Initially delighted, the people soon suffer from relentless heat and drought. This time, the angry Dark refuses to hear their anguished pleas. With her baby sister snugly wrapped, determined Alekachawo braves a skyward journey. Touched when this polite child humbly offers all her modest but precious possessions, the Dark's anger softens. The people exult when night returns to restore balance in their world. Cinematic art reinforces the drama, with rich, jewel-like colors and inventive compositions in sweeping layouts. Decorative line work adds detail, while a distinctive drawing style gives this world and its inhabitants a unique charm. A glossary of Malawi vocabulary brings resonance to the story's cultural origins. A captivating tale to enrich the folktale canon.

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