Night Lights & Pillow Fights: A Trip To Storyland [Hardcover]

Guy Gilchrist (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1997

The award winning author and illustrator of 40 children's books, Guy Gilchrist, brings to you this 2nd edition of Night Lights & Pillow Fights: A Trip To Storyland. Children 8 and younger will enjoy this fun packed collection of stories, silly rhymes and limericks. No matter which page young readers turn to, they're sure to find a bit of adventure, lots of laughs, and always a few surprises - as well as fanciful and enchanting illustrations. On April 25, 1998, the National Cartoonist's Society presented Guy with the prestigious Reuben Award in the category of Best Book & Magazine Illustrations in 1997 for his illustrations in his Night Lights books. Perfect for bedtime - or anytime you want to be silly with your little one!

Editorial Reviews

Review

A slightly off-center, definitely loony collection of stories, silly rhymes and oddball limericks that offers something for everyone. Gilchrist's cast of characters includes a slightly dippy princess, a love-sick dragon, a Moodle (a kind of cross between a moose and a poodle), a wooly mammoth or two, a mouse named Fred, a late-rising bird that likes pepperoni. Gilchrist's goofy text is illuminated by some whimsical artwork that is beautifully drawn, funny, imaginative, filled with kinetic action and often quite sublime. Try to imagine a character from the old Warner Brothers cartoon unit united with one of the Marx Brothers and Bullwinkle tossed in and you have some idea of what Guy Gilchrist is all about. This man is witty and his work is most impressive. This is definitely the right stuff. -- The Coast Book Review Service 04/90

Children and adults alike will find Night Lights and Pillow Fights a lot of fun. There is an adventure to be found on each page. Whether you're doing the reading or doing the listening, you will find yourself laughing. Children will delight in the illustrations, which are much like that of cartoon characters. The stories, rhymes and limericks remind one of Dr. Seuss. Fun to read and filled with lots of surprises. A wonderful bedtime read - a perfect end to a perfect day. -- Indy's Child 05/98

Guy Gilchrist supplies both the rhymes and the illustrations for this anthology, which stakes out territory somewhere between Lear and Seuss. Here's a sample: "There once was a monster named Clark,/ who scared me each day at the park./ But the park was all right:/ I could play there at night/ 'Cause Clark was afraid of the dark." Then there is the tale of Prince Strong-heart and the Dragon, in which the hero goes on a quest to slay a dragon (so he can impress the princess, of course) and ends up befriending his foe. Everything ends happily, though. Oops, now you know! -- People Magazine 03/90

Many children's books suffer from terminal blandness. Not the lively Night Lights and Pillow Fights. It is billed as a bedtime book, but beware: Gilchrist's plots and ditties are guaranteed to stimulate. Princesses and barbers, mammoths and marmosets, pogo sticks and snowflake inspectors crop up in limerick and tale. Parents will enjoy the reading; kids, the listening. -- The Tampa Tribune-Times 05/90

This delightful book is packed with original stories, rhymes, and limericks. There is the story of Princess Claire who refuses to brush her hair, a salute to a moodle which is a cross between a moose and a poodle, and a warning to kangaroos who may want to hop upside-down. Fanciful and enchanting illustrations will send children off to dreamland adventures with large smiles on their faces. -- American Bookseller "Pick of the Lists" 04/90

About the Author

Guy Gilchrist is the award winning author & illustrator of 40 children's books that include Just Imagine, the Mudpie series, and the Tiny Dinos series and has three "Children's Choice Books" from the Children's Book Council. On April 25, 1998, the National Cartoonist's Society presented Guy with the prestigious Reuben Award in the category of Best Book & Magazine Illustrations in 1997 for his illustrations in Night Lights & Pillow Fights: A Trip To Storyland and Night Lights & Pillow Fights II: The Box Set.

Guy Gilchrist has been an artist and writer of world renown for nearly two decades. Besides writing children's book, he is the syndicated cartoonist of Nancy, The Muppets and The Rock Channel comic strips. His work has been shown in newspapers and museums worldwide and is permanently enshrined in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. Guy is on the Board Of Directors of the Newspaper Features Council, a member of the National Cartoonists Society and a member of Artists & Writers.

Guy Gilchrist was born on January 30th, 1957 in Hartford, Connecticut. Raised in the Farmington Valley, he learned to draw cartoons from lessons from his mother, Louise, and by copying the pictures from Walt Disney Golden Books & Dr. Seuss stories. A self-taught cartoonist and writer, Gilchrist sold his first cartoons on shirt cardboard clothes-pinned to a rope outside his father's shop.

At the age of 8 years old, Guy knew he would be an artist and a writer when he grew up. On a field trip with his class, Guy met Theodore Geisel who's pen name was Dr. Seuss. What Dr. Seuss told Guy had a great impact on him. "Dreaming a dream is okay, but if you don't get up and do something about it, all you'll have is a pretty little dream. If you work hard at your dream, then you can be anything you want to be," is what Dr. Seuss told to a room full of children. From that moment on, Guy knew he could be an artist. "Dream It ... Then Do It!" is the philosophy Guy always passes on to all the children at HIS appearances.

"I got a rejection letter from Mad Magazine when I was sixteen. It told me the "cartoons were one step away from reality"...and I was "too many steps away". It told me to "do life drawing, continuous line drawing, gesture drawing...all real subjects". I was heartbroken over the rejection, but it was such a blessing to me. I started drawing REAL! And I've never stopped. Never stopped learning. Never stopped seeing...and getting my hand to draw what the eye sees...or...what my imagination sees."

After high school, Guy started his children's book and cartoon career with Weekly Reader Books. Then, in 1980, he would audition for a job that would change his life: Jim Henson's Muppets! In 1981, Guy, with his brother Brad as co-writer, created The Muppets comic strip for the late, great Jim Henson. The Muppets comic strip was printed world-wide in over 660 newspapers daily from 1981 - 1986. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan, invited Guy to be guest of honor at the Easter At The White House celebration. It was later that week that Guy's Muppets art work was permanently enshrined in the Smithsonian Institute. Also in 1984, Guy Gilchrist, his brother Brad, and syndicated cartoonist Greg Walker (Beetle Bailey) created The Rock Channel comic for Cowles Syndicate.

In 1992, Guy created the first of four sports logos for minor league teams. The Portland Sea Dogs became the best selling logo in the history of minor league baseball. Since 1992, he has created logos for the Norwich Navigators, The New Britain Rock Cats and the Binghamton Mets. He also created the S-Pulse logo for Sony Creative Japanese Soccer Team.

In 1996, Guy experimented with a new inspirational feature called Angelspeake. Also that year, was the introduction of the Positivenergy! gift line of inspirational items from Russ Berrie, Inc.

And then, came SCREAMS!! This cartoon is for teenagers and adults and the monster lover in all of us. Screams and Angelspeake are both featured at Gilchrist Studios Online along with all the comics and features that Guy draws and writes.

In 1997, Guy and his wife Angie began their own international publishing company. Gilchrist Publishing began with two books of poems and pictures written for children of all ages. His newest book is a sequel to the critically acclaimed Night Lights & Pillow Fights: A Trip To Storyland and is called Night Lights & Pillow Fights II: The Box Set. Guy's most recent venture is the Night Lights syndicated feature which appears in newspapers nationwide and on the Internet. It is a full color children's page consisting of illustrated verse, games and comics.

Guy enjoys writing and drawing Nancy, which appears in over 390 newspapers worldwide, distributed by United Media Syndicate. "As a kid, I opened The Hartford Times every day and Nancy is the first strip I remember," recalls Guy, who with his brother Brad returned Nancy to its legendary style September 3rd, 1995. Today, with millons reading Nancy and so many more enjoying his children's book, Guy is enjoying the popularity that comes from so many years of doing the work he truly loves.

Guy lists as his greatest accomplishments: his daughter Lauren (19), his son Garrett (17), his step daughter Julia (9), and convincing Angie Brown to marry him. Guy enjoys a good day of bad golf, cheering on The Boston Red Sox and the Washington Redskins, writing hillbilly songs, singing ol' Hank & Elvis tunes, and most of all, looking forward to the mystery and magic of tomorrow.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Gilchrist Publishing; 2 edition (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966047311
• ISBN-13: 978-0966047318
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,168,980 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book!, October 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Night Lights & Pillow Fights: A Trip To Storyland (Hardcover)

This is one of the best children's books I have seen in awhile. It has two qualities that are vitally important in any book for young children. First, the illustrations are so bright and silly and full of detail that children will enjoy looking at them alone. Second, the poems are so catchy and whimsical that adults will enjoy reading the book out loud for the hundredth time as much as the first time. This is a book that will give the giggles to adults as well as to children.

5.0 out of 5 stars Guy Gilchrist , a Wonderful Authour, October 17, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night Lights & Pillow Fights: A Trip To Storyland (Hardcover)

Hello all, i have a Book called Night Lights and Pillow Fights. Its wonderful and i can`t wait to read it to my Children. My Wife is expecting in a few Months and i am going to enjoy reading a very caring and good wholesome book :) Guy and Wife Angie are Fantastic People who keep in contact with People on the net. Try to find another Book Writer to do that. And i love the fact that he will autograph each book bought :) These people are wonderful and caring, You won`t go wrong with their books for your Children :)

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best children's books I've seen in awhile!, August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Night Lights and Pillow Fights: A Trip to Storyland (Hardcover)

This book has two very important qualities for a children's book. First, the illustrations are so colorful, detailed, and full of imagination that a child who cannot yet read will enjoy just sitting and looking at the book over and over. Also, the rhymes are so catchy and humorous that adults will not get tired of reading the book hundreds of times. Wonderful book!