#blogbookaday: Flashlight Night

Summary:  “Flashlight Night is an ode to the power of imagination and the wonder of books. Three children use a flashlight to light a path around their backyard at night; in the flashlight’s beam another world looms. Our heroes encounter spooky woods, a fearsome tiger, a time-forgotten tomb, an Egyptian god, a sword-fighting pirate, and a giant squid. With ingenuity, they vanquish all, then return to their tree house–braver, closer, and wiser than before–to read the books that inspired their adventure.” (Taken from Goodreads)

Review: A book that shows how your imagination can take you on an adventure when given a little help from some books, a flashlight and an awesome tree fort. Three kids are spending the night in their tree fort and go on an adventure around their yard – searching for treasure in a Ancient Egyptian tomb, battling a tiger in the jungle, sailing with a pirate captain and taking on a giant squid, until their eyes are too tired to stay open any longer.

Personal Reaction: I really enjoyed how the artist was able to turn everything in flashlight’s beam into an adventure, while combining it with the children’s backyard – how the pool became an ocean, under the deck became an ancient hall and tree fort’s ladder stretched up to a hot air balloon. With amazing vocabulary like “un-masks” and “tightly moored” and “craggy mountainside” this book is sure to be a hit among adventurers of all ages. You might just need to find a few flashlights as well.

Title: Flashlight Night
Author:  Matt Forrest Esenwine
Illustrator: Fred Koehler
Publisher: Boyds Mills Press
Publication Date: September 19, 2017

This is a new idea I’m trying on my blog this year that was inspired by @donalynbooks and @heisereads – to provide a brief review of a picture book every day of 2018. You’ll get a brief summary of the story, a review of the content, illustrations and theme, my personal reaction to the book and all the pertinent publication information! Enjoy!