Night Knight by Owen Davey (Templar Books, 2011) begins and ends with a boy with a colander as a hat, holding a play horse, but the rest of the illustrations show a different story: a knight coming to the end of his day. The illustrations are playful and fun as the “knight” bathes with the fishes, jumps over crocodiles, and heads to his tower room. The story is one all kids can relate to – the need to go to bed – and yet the story comes across as playful and original. It’s easier to head to bed when it becomes a game. Raisin and I liked the imagination in this story, and the fact that the story is told through the pictures with just a few words on the page makes it extra appropriate for a young child resisting bedtime. It’s just long enough to give the child an amusing story they can relate to, but not too wordy to be a quick bedtime story to help a child calm down. I personally really liked the muted color palate (orange, yellows, and purplish-blue) and the geometric illustrations. This title was a Cybils 2012 Fiction Picture Book pick. If only baby Strawberry had stayed awake long enough to enjoy this one with us! A little boy with a colander on his head transforms into a knight that is getting ready for bedtime. He gives a "ye olde yawn" and heads off on the great adventure for the night. He climbs mountains (stairs). He brushes teeth while dodging crocodiles. He turns out the lights (closes his "visor"). And he goes to sleep because "even a knight needs a good night's sleep."I love the illustrations in this one. They are all browns, and rusts, and orangy-yellows. With a dab of cream and mint green here or there. The boy easily turns into a boy in pajamas with kitchen ware on his head to a great knight that does the impossible (going to bed easily...or taming three-headed-dragons). I can't wait to read this one in storytime. I think the kids will enjoy seeing what an imagination can do to ordinary things like bedtime.
What do You think about Knight Night (2012)?
So clever and fun! Loved the drawings and concept. You could also teach your child about homophones!
—raj
Wonderful illustrations. Would be great for an imagination or dress-up storytime.
—ptvjulietsws
Another charming bedtime story told in the style of Camelot.
—jenbanana
Very cute bedtime story; good for story times.
—Shailesh
