Flashlight Night
by Matt Forrest Esenwine; Illustrated by Fred Koehler
Boyds Mills Press (September 19, 2017)
Fiction * Imagination & Play
Audience: Ages 4 to 8 years old
Indiebound | WorldCat
Description from GoodReads:
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.
Thoughts on the book:
Some books are magical. Magical books have enchanting stories and beautiful illustrations that take the text to the next level. And most importantly magical books compel us to create an experience for students that transcend the page and become real. Esenwine and Koehler have created just such a book with FLASHLIGHT NIGHT.
This is the kind of book that makes me want to purchase a copy for every teacher in a school and use it as a one book, one school event. I am already searching for mini-flashlights and the best deals so I can purchase enough for every student in the school. I am thinking about the pitch to the PTA to recruit volunteers to help with a nighttime school event. Can you see it? I can.
I can see the imaginative writing assignments inspired by Esenwine's story. And let's talk about the illustrations and how students can design their own images from the beam of their flashlights?!
I wish I currently had a school or library to make this happen but if you want to brainstorm ideas for how to make this real, I would be happy to be a thought-partner.
Look for a copy of this book at your local indie bookstore and community library.
About the author:
Matt Forrest Esenwine’s poetry has been published in Highlights™ as well as in anthologies selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, Carol-Ann Hoyte, and J. Patrick Lewis. He lives with his family in Warner, New Hampshire. Visit mattforrest.com.
About the illustrator:
Fred Koehler is an artist and storyteller whose real-life misadventures include sunken boats, illegal border crossings, and fighting off robbers in the dead of night. Whether free diving in the Gulf of Mexico or backpacking across Africa, Fred’s sense of adventure and awe of nature overflow into his characters’ stories. Fred is passionate about encouraging young artists, promoting social justice, and conserving our environment. He lives in Florida with his wife, kids, and a rescue dog named Cheerio Mutt-Face McChubbybutt. Visit ilikefred.com.
Check out the other stops on the blog tour:
Friday, 9/15 Jama’s Alphabet Soup
Monday 9/18 KitLit Exchange/The Loud Library Lady
Tuesday 9/19 Penny Klostermann Book Blog
Wednesday 9/20 Unleashing Readers
Thursday 9/21 KidLit Frenzy
Friday 9/22 Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook
Monday 9/25 Librarian in Cute Shoes
Tuesday 9/26 Nerdy Book Club
Thank you Boyds Mills Press for the book giveaway. Winner must be 13 years old or older and have a US mailing address.