Switch on the Night [Library Binding]

Ray Bradbury (Author), Leo Dillon (Author), Diane Dillon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 8, 2000 | Age Level: 2 and up

A new, larger trim size and a handsome jacket make this reissue by premier science fiction author Ray Bradbury and Caldecott Medal-winning artists Leo and Diane Dillon a stunning gift book.

A little boy likes lanterns and lamps, but he doesn't like light switches because they turn off the light. Then one day, a little girl named Dark shows up at his door. She helps the boy to see light switches as turning on the night, rather than turning off the light. And when he switches on the night, he also switches on the stars and moon and the crickets and frogs. Sure to reassure any child who has felt afraid of the unknown, Switch On the Night will also impress adult readers with its subtle message about things that are "dark" and its imaginative approach to understanding that which is different.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3-A lonely child loses his fear of the night after a girl named Dark teaches him that the very same switches that turn off lights can turn on the Night, and with it the crickets, and frogs, and stars, and moon. Originally published in 1955 (with illustrations by Madeleine Gekiere), the story has an old-fashioned, impersonal air-the boy is never named; he looks out his window at "the other children"; his parents are "Mother and Father"-but also has that vivid sense of magic that infuses all of Bradbury's poetic writing. The illustrations enhance this otherworldly mood, combining simultaneous views from several directions and distances into single scenes; the effect is Escher-like, lit either in pale gold or luminous blue-green. A minor gem, visually appealing in art and design, strongly atmospheric, and founded on an ingenious strategy for coping with a common fear.
John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"[The] story has that vivid sense of magic that infuses all of Bradbury's poetic writing. The illustrations enhance this otherworldly mood. . . . [A] gem, visually appealing in art and design, strongly atmospheric, and founded on an ingenious strategy for coping with a common fear."
--School Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Library Binding: 40 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (August 8, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375906088
• ISBN-13: 978-0375906084
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 9.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,868,589 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ray Bradbury has published some 500 short stories, novels, plays and poems since his first story appeared in Weird Tales when he was twenty years old. Among his many famous works are 'Fahrenheit 451', 'The Illustrated Man' and 'The Martian Chronicles'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No More Fear of the Dark, August 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Switch on the Night (Hardcover)

A delightful journey with a young, lonely boy who lives only in the light because of his fear of the dark. He meets a young girl that shows him the beauty and magic of the dark, along with all the creatures that live in the dark. He learns that he has a choice to 'turn on' the light or the dark.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Once there was a little boy who didn't like the night.", April 29, 2006

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Switch on the Night (Hardcover)

Ray Bradbury is not often thought of as a writer of horror stories, although certainly the idea of living in a world where firemen were the people who burned books would be just about the most horrific thing a writer could imagine. But E.C. comics like "Tales of the Crypt" were doing version of his horror tales, so he certainly has the credentials in that field. What makes "Switch on the Night" unusual is that it is the only picture book for very young children written by Bradbury. While it is not exactly a horror story, it is certainly based on a basic theme in horror, being afraid of the dark. However, what Bradbury does with that theme is simply magic.

We begin with the declaration, "Once there was a little boy who didn't like the night." What he liked were lanterns and lamps, torches and tapers, and basically anything that created light. So he never went outside at night, although from his window he could see the other children playing on their lawns on summer nights. At night, he slept in the only room in town with a light on: he did not like light switches, because they switched off the light, and he never switched off the light. But then comes the night when his parents were away and the boy turned on every light in the house to keep away the night. Then there came a knock at the door and there was a young girl who said her name was Dark, and who told the little boy that she would introduce him to the Night so that they could be friends.

Needless to say, if you have a child who is afraid of the dark, this book can help them get over it (I bet some parents will read the book and instead of passing it along to their child will simply follow Dark's lead and play it out for real). "Switch on the Night" was originally published in 1955 with illustrations by Madeleine Gekiere. This newer edition has artwork by Leo and Diane Dillon (whose dedication is to M.C. Escher, which you will understand as soon as you see a few of their pictures). As a rule I am willing to pick up anything the Dillons illustrate, having been introduced to their work for the myriad covers they have done for pretty much every hardback and paperback collection of Harlan Ellison's work published since the 1960s. These illustrations demonstrate a softer side to their artwork and help to create the dreamlike quality necessary to the telling of this particular tale.

4.0 out of 5 stars I wish I had this book as a child., February 6, 2011

By 

Menolly (midwest) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: SWITCH ON THE NIGHT (Umbrella Books) (Hardcover)

As a child I was always terrified of the dark. I know it is a very common problem with children but I believe my case was a little more serious. To this day I have to sleep with the lights on if I'm alone and even when someone is with me I still get goosebumps. I wish I had this book when I was a kid to help me realize there is nothing to be afraid of. Beautiful illustrations and anything by Ray Bradbury is sure to please.