The Night Tent
by Landis Blair (Author)
A boy struggling to fall asleep peeks beneath his covers to find a world filled with nighttime adventures under a starry, tented sky.
Watson is having trouble sleeping. He lies awake at night, doing his best not to think about the lurking, creeping things that might be hiding in his closet or under his bed. But the more he tries, the harder it gets.
Then he notices a mysterious light coming from under his covers. When he takes a peek he discovers a beautiful, tented night sky full of twinkling stars. And because he isn't sleepy, he follows a path the stars show him. It leads him through a forest and onto an adventure that includes friendly creatures and a magical trolly ride to a tiny island with a very tall tower--and finally, sleep.
Landis Blair is the author and illustrator of The Envious Siblings and Other Morbid Nursery Rhymes, as well as the illustrator of the New York Times bestseller From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughty and the graphic novel The Hunting Accident by David Carlson. His quirky and wonderful work is perfect for fans of Edward Gorey. With his debut picture book, The Night Tent, he celebrates the exploration of imagination and possibility that becomes so potent in the late hours of the night.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
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Kirkus
Bedtime shenanigans take on a comforting tone in this tale of epic adventuring under the sheets. . . . Dynamic pen-and-ink crosshatchings against a palette of deep navy blues and dusk-colored purples suffuse Watson's story with an appropriately mellow bedtime feel. . . . Tone is Blair's strength, and kids will enjoy following Watson's twisty paths with their fingers.
ALA/Booklist
Blair serves us a gentler take on Where the Wild Things Are. . . . The artwork in this imaginative bedtime tale will captivate little ones with its peculiar, dreamlike details. It also sidesteps being scary, offering comfort in the wonders that the night can bring.
None
Blair offers viewers a fantastical nighttime adventure. . . . the crosshatched illustrations of imaginative creature-filled escapades recall classic Sendak. Equal parts magical and soothing, the story could serve as a wonder- filled read-aloud or a calming bedtime tale.
Publishers Weekly
Worried about possible monsters at bedtime, a boy takes refuge beneath his quilt and discovers beneath it not only stars, but a winding path through an expansive land. The journey that ensues makes for a classic bedtime adventure, complete with a mysterious forest, friendly monsters, and a trolley ride "through an ancient city,/ along treacherous cliffs,// and over the sea to a tiny island/ with a very tall tower." With each twist, a refrain--"And since Watson wasn't sleepy..."--explains the pale-skinned protagonist's decision to proceed even farther. Fatigue increasingly overcomes the child nevertheless--Watson is so droopy-eyed upon arriving at the tower that he can barely climb its spiraling stairs, before tucking in for a good night's rest, even amid text hinting that the monsters may still lurk. Digitally colored with midnight hues, Blair's closely worked pen and ink drawings frequently take a long-distance aerial perspective, emphasizing the maze-like aspect of Watson's explorations. It's dream-inspiring bedtime fare that emphasizes a child's solo arc toward self-soothing and, eventually, sleep. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)
Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
Review quotes
"[An] enchanting bedtime tale."—Foreword Reviews
"A gentle and whimsical adventure, with a cool color palette of blues, purples, and greens to set a tranquil mood underneath a starry night sky. . . . This is a comforting read that encourages young readers to use their imagination to explore lands beyond their wildest dreams while overcoming their darkest fears."—The Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV010000 - Juvenile Fiction | Bedtime & Dreams
Picture books
Imagination
