PICTURE BOOK REVIEW: Bright Winter Night by Alli Brydon & Ashling Lindsay

BRIGHT WINTER NIGHT

by Alli Brydon, illustrated by Ashling Lindsay

Two Lions, 2022

ISBN: 978-1542022248

Source: Blue Slip Media for review

Ages 4-8

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Book cover, summary, & illustrations are provided by Blue Slip Media & the publisher.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The forest calls, and creatures come:

big and small, one by one.

They sense there is a task to do

as night descends, replacing blue.

On one bright winter night, a group of woodland creatures emerges from the forest. Despite their differences, they start to build something together, using items found on the forest floor. What are they making? And how quickly can they build it? Something special is happening tonight, and soon the animals are off—in a race to catch a glimpse of one of nature’s most astounding wonders! With lyrical text and sparkling artwork, Bright Winter Night is a celebration of the joy and beauty of nature and the special gift of friendship and togetherness.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR

Author Alli Brydon is inspired by natural wonders and what they can teach us, and she strives to bring that magic to the books she writes for children. Recent picture books include Lobstah Gahden, illustrated by EG Keller, and Love Around the World, illustrated by Wazza Pink. She also writes nonfiction about creatures, from insects to lemurs to humans. Alli holds an MFA in poetry from Sarah Lawrence College in New York and lives in England with her family. Learn more at www.allibrydon.com.

Instagram: allibrydon
Twitter: Alli Brydon

Ashling Lindsay is an artist and writer from Belfast, Ireland. Her picture books are published in more than ten languages and have received various awards and accolades, including a nomination for the Kate Greenaway Medal; being shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the Klaus Flugge Prize, and the Children’s Books Ireland Book of the Year; and being longlisted for the UKLA Book Awards. In 2020 she was awarded the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Honour Award for Illustration with her book The Tide, written by Clare Helen Welsh. Learn more at www.ashlinglindsay.co.uk.

Instagram: ashling.lindsay

REVIEW

In fluid, flowing text Alli Brydon takes readers on a journey with a group of animals.  The animals come together to build a sleigh, hoping that it will help them reach their destination on time.  Each animal uses its skills to contribute to the cause. Falcon ties things together, beaver shares boughs of wood, the rabbits design the seat, and other animals add their special touches to the sleigh before the wolves arrive to carry the group over the snow and through the woods.  But when disaster strikes, while their efforts have been in vain? No, indeed, it will not, as the beauty to be found at the journey's end calls to them through the trees.  The lovely watercolors highlight the movement and excitement of the journey. And the stunning, sparkling beauty found at last makes all the work well worthwhile.

ILLUSTRATIONS