Description:
Even the most restless reader will find peace and quiet in this breathtakingly illustrated book about the magic of nature, nighttime, and a duck who can't sleep, based on a poem by the renowned author of Charlotte's Web, E.B. White, which was published in The New Yorker in 1928 and now appears for the first time in book form.
How surprised I was to see
A duck as wide awake as me.
Long past bedtime, two creatures sleeplessly wander around and around the reservoir in New York's Central Park. What woes and wonders keep them awake so late?
Based on a poem originally published in The New Yorker by the legendary author E.B. White, and marvelously illustrated by two-time Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet, the book you hold is a love letter to nature in unlikely places, a testament to the power of imagination, and a balm to restless readers everywhere.
Brief description:
Martha White, granddaughter of E. B. White, is a writer and editor who lives on the coast of Maine. A longtime contributing editor to Yankee Publishing and The Old Farmer's Almanac, she compiled two weekly columns for United Feature Syndicate for many years and published Traditional Home Remedies (in 1997). Her articles and essays have been published in the New York Times; the Christian Science Monitor; Early American Life; Family Circle; Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors; and numerous other national magazines and small presses.
Review Quotes:
"Originally published in The New Yorker in 1928, each line of White's poem sets a different scene as Sweet's unique composites of pattern and pops of color brings the story to life. Beautiful artwork accompanied by poignant verse; this posthumous collaboration is a paragon of illustrated poetry." - School Library Journal (starred review)
"Every detail of art and text feels considered and harmonious, showcasing both the wry humor and quiet beauty of the encounter. The poem is short, but details in the art encourage readers to absorb it slowly, as a menagerie of other creatures are tucked in among the pages. With a foreword by White's granddaughter, Martha White, this marvelous new treatment of the ninety-eight-year-old poem allows readers (of all ages) to revel in nature, curiosity, and the thrill of a post-bedtime walk." - The Horn Book (starred review)
"Sleepers awake. An uncommonly pleasing consideration of wakeful wanderings. White's delicious language infuses this simple encounter with wonder. Sweet has a true talent for presenting poems that were never originally intended for children as entirely accessible, even enticing, to young readers." - Kirkus Reviews