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It's a Firefly Night

Book Resume

for It's a Firefly Night by Dianne Ochiltree and Betsy E. Snyder

Professional book information and credentials for It's a Firefly Night.

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  • Kirkus:
  • Ages 4 - 6
  • Publisher's Weekly:
  • Ages Toddler - 6
  • TeachingBooks:*
  • Grades PK-2
  • Word Count:
  • 350
  • ATOS Reading Level:
  • 2.7
  • Genre:
  • Picture Book
  • Year Published:
  • 2008

The following 10 subject headings were determined by the U.S. Library of Congress and the Book Industry Study Group (BISAC) to reveal themes from the content of this book (It's a Firefly Night).

The following unabridged reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers. Reviews may be used for educational purposes consistent with the fair use doctrine in your jurisdiction, and may not be reproduced or repurposed without permission from the rights holders.

Note: This section may include reviews for related titles (e.g., same author, series, or related edition).

From Kirkus

May 1, 2013
On a summer's night, a child sails out into her yard to gather (and then release) lightning bugs. Just like the stars that seem to wink and glimmer in Snyder's moonlit, mist-streaked night skies, fireflies glow in the grass amid scattered trees and flowers. They smile in close-up views as the child, barefoot and nightgown-clad, gently gathers them into a big jar while her father looks on. Reflecting that "I love catching fireflies, / but they are not mine," she cups each captive in her hand before "easy and slow, / I whisper good-bye, / then I let it go!" A spread of firefly facts caps the idyllic nighttime foray. Rough sparkly patches on the jacket add a tactile element that compensates, at least in part, for inner flaps that cover parts of the endpaper nightscapes. The bugs and brushwork resemble Eric Carle's, but Snyder's art works its own magic. An intimate encounter with nature lit not just by stars and fireflies, but also an affecting dose of daddy-daughter warmth. (Picture book. 4-6)

COPYRIGHT(2013) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From Publisher's Weekly

April 1, 2013
"When the moon is high/ and the stars are bright,/ Daddy tells me,/ 'It's a firefly night,' " explains a girl in a pink nightgown, as she races through her yard trying to collect glimmering lightning bugs. Snyder's illustrations pull some serious weight to create a feeling of nighttime magic: the lawn glows with an almost supernatural lime green, which is echoed in the gleam of the fireflies and the stars in a night sky painted in rough strokes of blue and violet. The overall effect of Snyder's art is that of cut-paper collage, and she includes friendly details throughout, from the small smiles that the fireflies wear to the reassuring presence of the girl's father, clad in his bedroom slippers. Ochiltree's rhymes are sturdy, and she makes it clear that, while catching fireflies is fun, the beetles are not meant to be kept ("Uncurling my hand,/ easy and slow,/ I whisper good-bye,/ then I let it go!"). Assorted firefly facts close out this cozy evocation of a special dad-and-daughter night. Ages 3â€"6. Agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words.

It's a Firefly Night was selected by educational and library professionals to be included on the following state/provincial reading lists.

United States Lists (1)

Florida

  • Florida Book Award Winners, 2006 - 2023

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This Book Resume for It's a Firefly Night is compiled from TeachingBooks, a library of professional resources about children's and young adult books. This page may be shared for educational purposes and must include copyright information. Reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers.

*Grade levels are determined by certified librarians utilizing editorial reviews and additional materials. Relevant age ranges vary depending on the learner, the setting, and the intended purpose of a book.

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