Boyds Mills & Kane, 2017
Picture book writers are advised to leave room for the illustrator when composing their text. Flashlight Night, written by Matt Forest Esenwine and illustrated by Fred Koehler. shows perfectly how this is accomplished. Koehler's art plus Esenwine's spare text equals a picture book narrative with depth, one that is sure to capture the attention of any young reader.
The illustrations shout what the text whispers.
What happens when kids with imagination turn on a flashlight at night? The illustrations answer!
Adventure lurks in the dark!
The illustrations shout what the text whispers.
What happens when kids with imagination turn on a flashlight at night? The illustrations answer!
Adventure lurks in the dark!
For instance, note this text with this illustration:
Brightens deck and mizzenmast,
exposes what you're sailing past.
(C) Fred Koehler
Notice how the image adds a layer to the story that is not stated in the text. It's like biting into a chocolate cupcake and discovering delicious raspberry cream filling! YUM! The text doesn't try to control the story's narrative by stating every detail. It allows the picture to show what the pool water becomes in the rays of the flashlight--a storm-tossed sea!--and that a toy has become a pirate ship or a flotation device a giant purple squid ready to attack.
What fun!
The author left room for the artist's imagination to unveil scrumptious narrative details.
Picture books like Flashlight Night--ones that marry words and illustrations in such a clever way--are the kinds of books that kids will beg to read, heads beneath bed covers, flashlights in hand. At least, until someone yells, "Lights out!"
What fun!
The author left room for the artist's imagination to unveil scrumptious narrative details.
Picture books like Flashlight Night--ones that marry words and illustrations in such a clever way--are the kinds of books that kids will beg to read, heads beneath bed covers, flashlights in hand. At least, until someone yells, "Lights out!"
(C) Fred Koehler Flashlight Night is an ode to the power of imagination and the wonder of books. Three children use a flashlight to light a path around their backyard at night; in the flashlight’s beam another world looms. Our heroes encounter spooky woods, a fearsome tiger, a time-forgotten tomb, an Egyptian god, a sword-fighting pirate, and a giant squid. With ingenuity, they vanquish all, then return to their tree house "braver, closer, and wiser than before” to read the books that inspired their adventure. ~Boyds Mills & Kane description
Illustrations used by permission of publisher.
Illustrations used by permission of publisher.
