A young boy snuggles under his covers one winter night, waiting - as he does every night - for his mother to return from her shift at the factory, before falling asleep. But this night is different. This night, the boy's mother returns to their apartment in great excitement, telling him to get dressed, and to come with her. Puzzled, but comforted by his mother's assurance that nothing is wrong, the boy follows her outside, where he finds all the residents of their building congregated in the parking lot, gazing up at the awe-inspiring Aurora Borealis...

This lovely picture-books succeeds on a variety of levels: as an engaging story about a young boy's wonder at the natural world, and the sense of community he feels, as he and his neighbors watch the Northern Lights together; as a completely matter-of-fact portrait of a family headed by a single, working-class mother, that doesn't make that reality the focal point of the story; and as a vehicle for Anna Rich's beautiful illustrations, which, with their dark tones, perfectly capture the beauty of the night. Under the Night Sky is yet another example of the high quality children's books being produced by Tilbury House, a small Maine press that is quickly becoming one of my "must-read" publishers! ( )

Retelling:
The young narrator is woken in the middle of the night by her mother to experience the wonder of the aurora lighting up the night sky. Her neighbors are all there watching in awe. The remarkable experience brings people together.

Thoughts and Feelings: This book made me feel safe and warm. It is unusual to read a book entirely written in the present tense. Amy Lunderbrek does a wonderful job of showing, not telling, in her writing.

I like this passage in particular:

"A little boy in a striped hat is wandering among the adults. I think I might have teased him at the bus stop once. I pat the hood in front of me. He hops up next to us, and I ask him his name."

A boy is woken in on a winter night by his mother to gather outside with neighbors to enjoy the northern lights. Community and personal closeness (mother and son) are celebrated in this book about the night sky. ( )

Under the Night Sky by Amy Lundebrek with illustrations by Anna Rich is a first person narrative of a young boy who is surprisingly awakened by his mother and scuttled off to watch a remarkable nighttime vision. The whole neighborhood is gathered to witness the spectacle of the Northern Lights. When the boy awakens the next morning, he wonders if his night of wonder was a dream.

First, I’d like to give you my opinion of Under the Night Sky and then I’ve got a few quick thoughts/activities for teachers/parents to enjoy while reading the story with their children:

I especially like that Under the Night Sky is contemporary in its setting of a single, working mother who must leave her child in the care of a neighbor. Children can easily identify with the young boy living in a multicultural neighborhood (and I especially like that we never know his name). There are several allusions to the neighborhood’s economic situation without ever making the reader consider them ‘poor.’ I love this. So many times, we’ve see the skeletal existence of poverty without understanding the joy of simple pleasures. Upon first glance, I was a little disappointed with the dark illustrations, but after reading the story found them to be a striking fit. The darkness of the night bedroom gives way to the green and purple swirls of the Aurora Borealis and lends a mystical quality to the tale.

Under the Night Sky is a definite MUST for school libraries and a great addition for classroom libraries as well.

For the full review & teaching activities, please visit my children's literature & reading website:
Reading Rumpus ( )