FICTION

Knocks in the Night

by Tilde MICHELS
tr. from German by David-Henry Wilson. illus. by Reinhard Michl. 32p. Starfish Bay. Dec. 2016. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781760360115.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 2—Michels riffs on the familiar folktale of "Always Room for One More." The rhyming text tells of bearded Peter's cozy cottage set at the edge of an icy forest where a succession of animals—a hare, fox, and bear—all beg for shelter from a blizzard. Each one promises to behave and not to make a meal of the other guests. At daybreak, the animals review the possible threats, including Peter's rifle on the wall, and quietly depart in turn. Peter awakens to an empty house and thinks he dreamed the animals' arrival the night before. He steps outside and views the varied paths of footprints from his door and recalls the night of peace. Michl's palette deftly contrasts frigid outdoors with indoor warmth. There are flickers of humor in Peter's disheveled state and the bear's icy muzzle.
VERDICT The engaging artwork and bounty of dialogue make this a fun read-aloud and a solid seasonal selection.
Reviewed by Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA , Nov 01, 2016

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

BOOKS

Berry Parker Doesn’t Catch Crushes
by Davis, Tanita S
BOOKS

The Picasso Curse
by Gutman, Dan
BOOKS

Setting the Stage
by Champion, Lindsay
BOOKS

How to Save a Library
by Nelson, Colleen
BOOKS

12 Strays of Christmas
by McKearin, Natalie
BOOKS

Countdown to Christmas: 24 Magical Advent Stories
by Stewart, Alexandra
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?