The Night Parade

May 19, 2014
Writing with the smooth, propulsive cadence of a nursery rhyme, newcomer Roscoe weaves a story of gentle nighttime magic starring a multiethnic crew of children. “Have you ever wondered what happens at night/ while mothers and fathers lie sleeping?” she asks. “Children wake up. They climb out of their beds,/ some crawling, some running, some leaping.” Walker (Bears in the Bath), working in pastel-colored watercolors outlined in ink, paints a friendly suburban landscape for these young insomniacs to explore, one that never feels anything less than safe and secure—a smiling crescent moon takes the place of a supervising adult, keeping an eye on the children from the night sky above. Despite the slightly illicit suggestion of kids climbing out windows and sneaking out doors while parents are sleeping, everything they get up to is as innocent as can be, from romping barefoot through city streets and baking towers of giant cupcakes to reading books under the watchful eye of a lavender whale. It’s soothing fodder for children’s imaginations at bedtime (even for those who opt to stay tucked into their beds). Up to age 3.

May 15, 2014
Nighttime can't just be for sleeping; what do toddlers really do at night?"Have you ever wondered what happens at night / while mothers and fathers lie sleeping? // Children wake up. / They climb out of their beds, / some crawling, some / running, some leaping." They gather together and skip through town. They sing songs and bake cakes for the moon. "They build castles of sand. / They paint pictures by hand. / They turn somersault / flips through the park." They dress up and march and read mountains of books and tell each other magical tales. But with each tale, they get dozier and dozier until they toddle back to bed and say goodbye to friends as the moon goes down. Despite one tiny hiccup in the meter at the close, Roscoe's rhyme makes a great rhythmic bedtime tale. Little listeners will be eager to lay down their heads with the prospect of a night's adventure with whales and mermaids. In Walker's watercolors, a multiethnic crew of young, happy revelers marches and plays musical instruments by the light of a smiling moon...a utopia of cakes, costume and play.A fine addition to the bedtime story shelf-it practically croons itself. (Picture book. 2-5)

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June 1, 2014

PreS-K-Roscoe's rhyming text presents a scenario in which tots leave their beds and homes to gather in town for the "night parade." The children walk in line, play instruments, hold hands, and march two-by-two. The playful verse, with descriptions of activities such as building sand castles, baking cakes, and reading "mountains of books" will have great child appeal. The frequent internal rhymes and inclusion of rich, poetic vocabulary makes for a good read-aloud, though there are some rhyme and cadence problems at the end. Walker's art enhances the dreamlike quality of the text. His soft-edged watercolor and ink illustrations are cheerful, and they masterfully extend the narrative. The images are not only charming but also imaginative, such as the crescent moon's yawning, smiling, and reading a book. A story that is best enjoyed in the lap of an adult.-Maralita L. Freeny, District of Columbia Public Library

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