by Ray Bradbury with illustrations by Madeleine Gekiere/ published 1955 by Pantheon BooksA friend turned me on to Switch on the Night, calling it one her top three favorites of all time. Apparently, she bought a first edition for a song at Half Price Books a few years back (same book now might fetch $150), and it became her daughter's before-sleep favorite for years. Currently in print with a different illustrator, the new drawings are nice, but they can't even begin to touch the originals by Swiss artist Gekiere. So small and whimsical and delightful. And who doesn't love Ray Bradbury, right?
The tale of a boy who didn't like the night and was quite fond instead of things like lights and lamps and the sun and such, until he meets a little girl called Dark who teaches him of the wondrous things he'll see when he switches on the night.
They climbed up and down stairs,
switching on the Night.
Switching on the dark.
Letting the Night live in every room.
Like a frog.
Or a cricket.
Or a star.
Or a moon.
The first time I read this to my son was last night, and he just flipped for it. I think every child has some inherent fear of the dark, and this simple drama puts those apprehensions into perspective. I hate to use the word "cosmic" here, but that's exactly what this book is. It is so dear in fact that on both reads -- last night and this morning -- I had to hold back the tears. What a special man Mr. Bradbury is... Kudos to him for having the heart to imagine this story.
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