Customer Reviews

Night of the Fireflies

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I loved this book. I love the writer. Children who read it will be smarter. Too bad all children's books can't be like this one.

Fireflies have become rare in Japan. That is why they need to be bred. On a certain day each year they are released, and Miko and her older brother Toshio witness such a summer night's release. Young Miko is so enchanted by the fireflies' light that she tries to catch them and take them homein her rice lamp. Of course, this does not bode well for the fireflies, and so on this very special night, Miko experiences the joy of granting freedom when releasing what she thought she should keep for herself.

This is one of the books you read with a soft and quiet voice. Even though throughout the book, dark colors prevail, the shining dots here and there and the - so to speak - illuminated text, the LIGHT dominates the pictures.

A wonderful book for summer night readings.

I bought "The Night of the Fireflies" for my niece, who, like Miko, had never seen such a wonder. She was as entranced by the idea of little flying lights as she was by the wonderful story. The book exposed her to a different culture (At each page we pointed out differences between Miko's world and ours, i.e., on page 3 Miko has laterns lighting her bedroom with her bed on the floor and we see Japanese characters on her walls that we couldn't interpret; but, Miko also has familiar toys and a pet kittie!).

We concluded that America, too, needs a special night devoted to the fireflies so we can experience this magical gift from nature.

We love Karen Winnick's books and art (although she used a different illustrator for this story). Yokito Ito, the illustrator, did some beautiful drawings and we thought her work complemented the story very well.

Highly recommended book.

John and Nancy

I am a volunteer reading partner for struggling first and second graders. Children really respond to this author's work and they love the simple, straightforward storytelling and magical illustrations in Night of the Fireflies. I highly recommend it.

My granddaughter loved this wonderful story about a special night in Japan when chidlren chase fireflies. It is a story that speaks to children about the importance of preserving the beauty of nature all around us. I highly recommend this book.