If You Were Night

If you were the night, would you “nestle under the covers” or choose to step into the darkness and explore the shadow-filled world? A child chooses adventure each time the question of “If you were the night, [what would you do?]” is posed, leading the way through the newly-discovered, night-time view of nature: a yard, pond, and forest accompanied by beautiful starlit skies and friendly nocturnal animals. As the night draws to a close and the deep black of the sky fades to blue, the question “If you were night / and all around was quiet / and all around was growing bright, / would you stay up to taste / a drop of morning dew?” is answered as the child tiredly watches the faint hints of sunrise with animal friends before snuggling back up into bed, the room dark to allow for well-deserved sleep as the bedroom window shows the brightening world outside. Van presents a dreamy and soothing poetic text that promotes mindfulness, introspection, and imagination, but the text is truly brought alive through Pousette’s incredibly executed paper-cut diorama illustrations. For a time of day that’s normally overlooked and unseen (due to both darkness and sleep patterns), night time is illuminated and enlivened in a remarkable way through even muted tones, making this a beautiful bedtime—or anytime—read.