Night Walk, written by Sara O'Leary and illustrated by Ellie Arscott. Groundwood, 2020. $18.95 ages 4 and up

 

"In one house a big family was eating a meal too late for supper and too early for breakfast. They were so happy it made me happy too. Was it always like this when I was asleep in my bed at night? So many people everywhere!"

Sleep doesn't come easily to the little girl who narrates this tender tale. Dad notices and wonders if she would like to go for a 'night walk' with him. The rest of the family is settled. So, the two are off disturbinh anyone. It's the first time they have for such a walk together. 

The wonder they find in ambling through town is lovely to see. They pass numerous homes, using streetlights to guide them. An apartment building offers lighted windows, as do many of the houses they pass. Downtown is filled with light and activity, and even more to see ... families living above storefronts, people on the sidewalks and in a bus, and diminishing light as they move toward the park. Both make observations as they wander, and Dad talks about his childhood in the county. A quick visit to the park, a swing together, and a chance to look at the stars marks the end of the stroll, and a return to the warmth of home. 

This father-daughter tale is told with a sense of belonging that comes with being in exactly the right place. The light-infused illustrations add warmth at every turn, and provide comfortable vignettes that invite conversation between the two.