With striking illustrations that will make your soul fly and spare text that will make your heart dance, this lyrical picturebook encourages us to set aside our snap judgements and quiet our fears of the unknown by shining light on what has been kept in the dark.
They came in the dark, and took the narrow path that only witches used. Everyone said that’s what they were . . .
But what if everyone was wrong? Watch what happens when one girl steps into the woods and gets to know these newcomers. The spooky black cat? Meet Mingus! The broomsticks and cloaks? Cloth and wooden handles. And those shadows in the sky? Handmade kites, fluttering in the breeze.
When the breeze becomes a blustery storm, everything changes...including first impressions.
Told from two perspectives, here is a gentle and timely reminder that all it takes to bridge the gap of misunderstanding and fear between people is an open and willing heart.
"A story....told with a spare, lyrical prose that invites engagement. Luyken’s art....truly gives the feeling of an autumn bonfire glowing through the chilly shadows and brambles." —The New York Times
★ "Magical and astute, In the Dark sheds light on building community through kindness, compassion, and connection." —Booklist, starred review
"A marvelous mix of autumnal spirits with a deeper call for understanding." —Kirkus Reviews
"Via a perspective-oriented picture book that’s printed to flip vertically, the creators delicately explore a community divided." —Publishers Weekly
"Hoefler's text is atmospheric and lyrical; Luyken's mixed-media art....excels at portraying the eeriness of the woods as well as their benign reality."—The Horn Book
"A bold venture in storytelling will appeal to children for its overall atmospherics and the twist in the plot." —School Library Journal
With striking illustrations that will make your soul fly and spare text that will make your heart dance, this lyrical picturebook encourages us to set aside our snap judgements and quiet our fears of the unknown by shining light on what has been kept in the dark.
They came in the dark, and took the narrow path that only witches used. Everyone said that’s what they were . . .
But what if everyone was wrong? Watch what happens when one girl steps into the woods and gets to know these newcomers. The spooky black cat? Meet Mingus! The broomsticks and cloaks? Cloth and wooden handles. And those shadows in the sky? Handmade kites, fluttering in the breeze.
When the breeze becomes a blustery storm, everything changes...including first impressions.
Told from two perspectives, here is a gentle and timely reminder that all it takes to bridge the gap of misunderstanding and fear between people is an open and willing heart.
Photos
Praise
"A story....told with a spare, lyrical prose that invites engagement. Luyken’s art....truly gives the feeling of an autumn bonfire glowing through the chilly shadows and brambles." —The New York Times
★ "Magical and astute, In the Dark sheds light on building community through kindness, compassion, and connection." —Booklist, starred review
"A marvelous mix of autumnal spirits with a deeper call for understanding." —Kirkus Reviews
"Via a perspective-oriented picture book that’s printed to flip vertically, the creators delicately explore a community divided." —Publishers Weekly
"Hoefler's text is atmospheric and lyrical; Luyken's mixed-media art....excels at portraying the eeriness of the woods as well as their benign reality."—The Horn Book
"A bold venture in storytelling will appeal to children for its overall atmospherics and the twist in the plot." —School Library Journal
