Ancient Night - by David Bowles (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Ancient Night is a twist on two Nahuatl traditions: the rabbit which the Feathered Serpent placed on the moon, and Yaushu, the Lord Opossum who ruled the earth before humans came, and who stole fire from the gods to create the sun. Award-winning author David Bowles has written a poetic text - and carefully researched backmatter - to accompany David's lush illustrations and story."--

Book Synopsis

BEST OF THE YEAR
Publishers Weekly - Evanston Public Library - Chicago Public Library - BookPage - Kirkus

"Vivid and vibrant." -- NPR Weekend Edition

At the start of things, the elders say,
the universe was hushed and still.
The moon alone shone bright and round
in the star-speckled dark of the sky.

Acclaimed Mexican artist David Álvarez pushes the boundaries with his first full-color book, Ancient Night (Noche Antigua). Renowned for his black-and-white illustrations, Álvarez breathes vibrant life into two classic Nahuatl myths: the moon-dwelling rabbit and Yaushu, the fire-stealing opossum.

Award-winning author David Bowles crafts a lyrical tapestry, weaving these ancient legends into a captivating tale. In-depth backmatter, meticulously researched, provides further context for curious young minds.

Published simultaneously in English and Spanish, Ancient Night offers a gateway to these timeless stories for young readers everywhere. Immerse yourself in Álvarez's stunning artwork and Bowles' evocative prose, experiencing the magic of these vibrant myths anew.

P R A I S E

★ "Bolstered by the ethereal, whimsical text, the plush, incandescent acrylic and oil paint artwork gathers the subtleties and splendors of nighttime and the plant life that surrounds Rabbit and Opossum. Together words and images tug readers along at a measured pace. An excellent authors' note underscores how common strands and crucial differences from wide-ranging Mesoamerican legends and myths furnish the inspiration at the roots of this tale. Like a mighty dream recalled from time gone by."
--Kirkus (starred)

★ "Luminous acrylic and oil illustrations bring the night to life... Enchanting text presents the tale in short, clear sentences that convey a sense of timeless mystery and beauty... An excellent choice for picture book collections that uniquely explores traditional Mesoamerican tales and is sure to inspire the wish for further discovery and appreciation."
--School Library Journal (starred)

★ "Bowles' spare, evocative text flows like poetry... Álvarez's compositions are sophisticated and uncluttered... beautifully crafted, gently stylized figures so remarkably textured that you can almost count the number of hairs on Rabbit's body. Ancient Night is wondrous, sparkling and easily one of the best picture books of 2023."
--BookPage (starred)

★ "Bowles's unhurried lines offer a playfully elegant feel to the telling, while Álvarez's saturated digitized paintings use a limited palette to imagine long-eared, gray Rabbit and pointy-nosed, rust-hued Opossum against luminous leafy landscapes. Together, the collaborators create a dreamlike story variation that truly shines."
--Publishers Weekly (starred)

★ "Unmissable... The breathtaking illustrations exude light themselves..."
--Foreword Reviews (starred)

★ "Stunning illustrations by acclaimed Mexican artist Álvarez feature a velvety black backdrop of a sky, stars providing only pinpricks of light...spellbinding, poetic text is lyrical but crisp."
--Horn Book (starred)

"A calming selection for evening lap reads and storytimes."
--BCCB

"A perfect bedtime read aloud. This Mesoamerican-inspired fable borrows from old tales for a larger-than-life yet soothingly illustrated picture book."
--Shelf-Awareness

"Exquisite."
--Melissa Taylor, Imagination Soup

"Álvarez's illustrations alone are enough to make this stunning picture book a winner--the dreamy feel of the milky moonlight against the deep-dark night and the crisp simplicity of the animals and their world is masterful. When paired with interwoven traditional Mesoamerican tales of the magic and power of our lunar companion, the story sings, enchanting readers with its mystery and beauty. Don't miss this one!"
--Southern Bookseller Review

Review Quotes

"Exquisite," Melissa Taylor, Imagination Soup

"Vivid and vibrant." - NPR Weekend Edition

"A calming selection for evening lap reads and storytimes."

-- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

[STAR] "Bowles' spare, evocative text flows like poetry... Álvarez's compositions are sophisticated and uncluttered... beautifully crafted, gently stylized figures so remarkably textured that you can almost count the number of hairs on Rabbit's body. Ancient Night is wondrous, sparkling and easily one of the best picture books of 2023."

-- BookPage (starred)

"Álvarez's illustrations alone are enough to make this stunning picture book a winner--the dreamy feel of the milky moonlight against the deep-dark night and the crisp simplicity of the animals and their world is masterful. When paired with interwoven traditional Mesoamerican tales of the magic and power of our lunar companion, the story sings, enchanting readers with its mystery and beauty. Don't miss this one!" -- Southern Bookseller Review

"A perfect bedtime read aloud. This Mesoamerican-inspired fable borrows from old tales for a larger-than-life yet soothingly illustrated picture book."-- Shelf-Awareness

"David Alvarez and David Bowles draw on several traditional stories of Mesoamerica (now known as Mexico and Central America) to craft, through stunning art and lyrical text, a picture book sure to become a classic." - Mary Quattlebaum, Washington Parent

[STAR] "Bolstered by the ethereal, whimsical text, the plush, incandescent acrylic and oil paint artwork gathers the subtleties and splendors of nighttime and the plant life that surrounds Rabbit and Opossum. Together words and images tug readers along at a measured pace. An excellent authors' note underscores how common strands and crucial differences from wide-ranging Mesoamerican legends and myths furnish the inspiration at the roots of this tale. Like a mighty dream recalled from time gone by." --Kirkus Reviews (starred)

[STAR] "Bowles's unhurried lines offer a playfully elegant feel to the telling, while Álvarez's saturated digitized paintings use a limited palette to imagine long-eared, gray Rabbit and pointy-nosed, rust-hued Opossum against luminous leafy landscapes. Together, the collaborators create a dreamlike story variation that truly shines." -- Publishers Weekly (starred)

[STAR] "Stunning illustrations by acclaimed Mexican artist Álvarez feature a velvety black backdrop of a sky, stars providing only pinpricks of light...spellbinding, poetic text is lyrical but crisp." -- Horn Book (starred)

[STAR] "Unmissable...The breathtaking illustrations exude light themselves..." -- Foreword Reviews (starred)

Horn Book 2023 Summer Reading List

[STAR] "Mesmerizing. Captivating. Enchanting." --School Library Journal (starred)

About the Author

David Álvarez is a graduate of the School of Design of the National Institute of Fine Arts of Mexico (EDINBA) and the winner of numerous international illustration awards. Ancient Night is his first book published in English.

David Bowles is a Mexican American author and translator from South Texas. Among his multiple award-winning books are Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexico, and They Call Me Güero. His translation of The Sea-Ringed World garnered a Batchelder Honor and was a finalist for the International Latino Book Award. In 2017, David was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters.