Common Sense Media Review
Beautiful bedtime book sparks kids' sense of wonder.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 2+?
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Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE HOUSE IN THE NIGHT begins with a child being given a gold key to the house in the night. In the house, they find a light illuminating the bed and sit down to read a book. In the book there's a picture of a bird, and the child flies off into the night sky upon the bird. They notice the sun, the moon, and all the things their light and darkness touch. The story reverses as the child and bird return to the house, and ends with the child in bed, comforted by the presence of both darkness and light.
Is It Any Good?
A magical slice-of-life tale, The House in the Night is a wonderful addition to any child's bedtime routine. The simple verse and black-and-white scratchboard illustrations sprinkled with gold make a comforting combination that serve the soothing message of the book beautifully. There's just enough intrigue in the text to keep the pages turning. Kids will love pointing out all of the items the light touches, making it a delightful book for families to read together.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what sparked their curiosity in The House in the Night. Where do the things in the book come from, like the bird, and where does it travel?
What do you do to get ready for bed? What helps you the most to feel sleepy and relaxed?
Where do you think the sun and moon go when they aren't in the sky?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Beth Krommes
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Adventures , STEM
- Character Strengths : Curiosity
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Clarion Books
- Publication date : October 4, 2011
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 36
- Available on : Paperback, Hardback
- Award : Caldecott Medal and Honors
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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