The Way Home in the Night - by Akiko Miyakoshi (Hardcover)

About the Book

A mother rabbit and her young bunny are on their way home in the dark night. My mother carries me through the quiet streets, the bunny explains. Most of our neighbors are already home. The bunny can see their lights in the windows, and hear and smell what they might be doing: talking on the phone, pulling a pie out of the oven, having a party, saying goodbye. When they reach home, the father rabbit tucks the bunny into bed. But the bunny continues to wonder about the neighbors activities. Are the party guests saying goodnight? Is the person on the phone getting ready for bed? And what of the footsteps that can be heard in the street as the bunny falls asleep? Will she take the last train home?

Book Synopsis

A mother rabbit and her young bunny are on their way home in the dark night. "My mother carries me through the quiet streets," the bunny explains. "Most of our neighbors are already home." The bunny can see their lights in the windows, and hear and smell what they might be doing: talking on the phone, pulling a pie out of the oven, having a party, saying goodbye. When they reach home, the father rabbit tucks the bunny into bed. But the bunny continues to wonder about the neighbors' activities. "Are the party guests saying goodnight? Is the person on the phone getting ready for bed?" And what of the footsteps that can be heard in the street as the bunny falls asleep? "Will she take the last train home?"This beautiful picture book captures the magical wonder a child feels at being outside in the night. Award-winning author and illustrator Akiko Miyakoshi's softly focused black-and-white illustrations with just a touch of neutral color have a dreamlike quality, just right for nodding off to sleep with. The book is intriguing in that it contains twice-told stories, once as they are observed and second as the bunny imagines them. This offers a perfect prompt for young children to create extensions of other stories they have read or heard. A deeper reading could encourage critical thinking by comparing the different pastimes of the neighbors or, ultimately, what it means to be home.

Review Quotes

... a fresh addition to the bedtime shelf ...--School Library Journal

... a lovely addition to a home library collection as it will likely become a preferred bedtime favourite for younger audiences.--CM Magazine

... one of the most successful bedtime books I've seen in a long while.--Kirkus Reviews

... this reflective, dreamy tale with its timeless art is a must for the bedtime shelf.--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

A web of enchantment draws readers into this affecting story.--Publishers Weekly, starred review

Highly atmospheric, quiet and dream-like ...--The Toronto Star

I can't help thinking that reading a picture book like this with a child at bedtime could redeem any day.--New York Times

Peaceful, particular, and just a little somber, this contemplative evocation of the closing of the day may provide the sort of indelible reading experience that children remember well into adulthood.--Horn Book

This is a lovely book about experiences which are universal and universally shared.--Booklist

About the Author

Akiko Miyakoshi was born in Saitama, on the island of Honshu in Japan. She began creating picture books while studying visual communication design at Musashino Art University. Her first picture book, The Storm, won the Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix.

Akiko Miyakoshi was born in Saitama, on the island of Honshu in Japan. She began creating picture books while studying visual communication design at Musashino Art University. Her first picture book, The Storm, won the Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix.