By Christine McFaul
Noises of the Night by author and illustrator Alana Pidwerbeski is a sweet lullaby set against striking images of the Canadian landscape.
This picture book begins with a child settling into bed for the night. In the quiet moments before sleep arrives, she listens to the sounds of night outside her window and contemplates how these noises might differ across the vast country.
Outside the wind blows
Through the leaves in the trees
My eyes are drooping
My mind drifting with ease
The words roll along simple and soothing, creating a song-like rhythm with a repetitive reminder that “the noises of night, differ near, differ far,” and “sing you lullabies wherever you are.” Rather than tell a story, the narrative is anecdotal, making brief stops from East Coast to West Coast and all the many places in between to spotlight noises typical of the region. Readers hear waves crashing, the call of loons, and wolves howling. They also hear the cooing of pigeons, the flight of planes, and the rumble of cars. Inclusive of both wilderness and urban settings, there is something for every child to recognize, no matter where they might call home. The words sweep across the country with a calming, sleepy ease, gentling nocturnal sounds and activity as they go.
But the real highlight of this picture book are the illustrations. There are twenty-one pictures in total with a bold and modernist feel that calls to mind the artwork of the Group of Seven. And similar to the work of these iconic artists, Pidwerbeski’s illustrations feel synonymous with the Canadian landscape and animals they depict. From a lone lighthouse standing strong on rocky shores to northern lights dancing over an Inuksuk with other breadcrumbs to discover along the way (a hockey stick on the bedroom floor, a silhouette of the CN Tower in the background, a flock of Canada geese overhead), these gorgeous illustrations are sure to please Canadian readers young and old. The palette is a mixture of beautiful and unexpected twilight colours. Deep plums and blues are set against warm yellow lights and the pinks and oranges of a fading summer sunset. The tones gradually darken with each image until, at the end of the book, the sun has set, and the reader is transported into a starry, summer night.
A calming lullaby complimented with beautiful pictures, Noises of the Night is a relaxing bedtime story that will appeal to Canadian readers and beyond. I believe it would best suit readers on the younger end of the picture book age range (with 2-4 being the ideal audience).
*Thank you to author Alana Pidwerbeski for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review