We don't live in a 9-5:00 work world and much work that is vital is done throughout the day and night. The sun may set, but work still continues on through the dark night hours. In All Through the Night: Important Jobs that Get Done at Night the young child can see how adults work while the child sleeps and how they do the important jobs at night as well as during the day.

Bright, highly detailed illustrations show the continuous hustle and bustle of night. The story explores with brief text a wide variety of jobs that carry on during the night hours. For those families with a parent whose work involves night work, this will be invaluable in helping the child understand the multifaceted work of night. For other children, it will help them learn that while they sleep others are keeping the world safe, clean, fed, etc.

I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. ( )

Every page bubbles with life and activity, celebrating all those people who keep the world running.

It starts with a little girl going to bed as her mother heads out to work her night shift at work. Once the mother walks out the door, she passes many others who are also on their way to their jobs or already working. And it's not just a few individuals, either.

First off, the illustrations are well done and really draw in. With beautiful blues, the night atmosphere radiates softly in the background and holds its hue as a constant reminder that much of the world is sleeping. Yet, the colors and details are impossible to ignore...and there are quite a few of them. Young listeners have more than a few things to search and gaze at, allowing them to discover something new with every read.

The text is simple and kept short, letting listeners know what to see but leaving the rest to the illustrations. Most of the jobs mentioned are familiar, and some might surprise young listeners. It does raise awareness to how many people are actually active during the night to keep life as we know it running the way it does. It's a wonderful way to expand young listeners' views on life around them and does raise the respect they'll have for these many individuals and jobs. I received a DRC through Edelweiss and especially enjoyed the illustrations. ( )

I'm a night owl by nature, and I couldn't resist a picture book for children about those who work the night shift while most people are asleep. All Through the Night - People Who Work While We Sleep is written by Polly Faber and illustrated by Harriet Hobday.

In the beginning of the book, our unnamed narrator is getting ready for bed as she farewells her Mum who is heading off to work.

Each page showcases characters working through the night in a variety of jobs, including: cleaner, security guard, reporter, baker, midwife and more! Our narrator reveals her Mum's job at the end of the book which was a very nice touch.

This is a gorgeously illustrated book with an attractive colour palette that does a great job of conveying the night time setting. The location is an unnamed city, increasing the appeal of the book to young readers. Some of the character names will be difficult for young kids to sound out, but I'm assuming this is in the name of diversity.

All Through the Night by Polly Faber and Harriet Hobday is recommended for children aged 3-5, but I think kids a little older will still enjoy this gem of a book.

* Copy courtesy of Allen & Unwin * ( )