The World at Night: Discover the World That Wakes When You Sleep

Gr 4-8–With playful illustrations and a wealth of facts on topics ranging from the Northern Lights to light pollution, Lerwill and Bossio’s collaboration is compelling and easy to become absorbed in. Each page offers readers information and vibrant illustrations about the diverse happenings of humans, animals, and the solar system after the sun goes down. The back matter, including a glossary and an index, makes the book easy to navigate, and readers can take a range of approaches to the text, from a linear read to flipping through whatever interests them in the moment. It’s a book to return to, with more to discover each time—from the number of cats who appear on certain pages to the somewhat uncomfortable information about the predatory leopards in Mumbai, who are fearless enough to enter the city and prowl for prey under the cover of darkness, hunting small animals and exploring human garbage. Readers with interest in outer space, urban life, animal behavior, and global ecosystems will find a lot to love in this beautiful volume. The color palette is mostly made up of dark blues and greens, and the pages are sprinkled with infographics that enrich the volume.