A Book Review: ‘At Night’ by Jonathan Bean

A little girl cannot sleep through the night. So what does she do? Well, she gathers her sleep gear and heads to the roof of the building for a night of great rest, of course! At Night by Jonathan Bean is the ideal book for storytime.

A Girl With A Dream

Many kids would run to their parents’s room if they were having difficulty falling asleep. The little girl in Bean’s story, however, decides to figure things out sans her mom and dad. 

Instead of invading their bed, she decides to get creative by going outside to sleep. She does not put herself in danger by creating a makeshift bed on the city streets. The little girl, instead, goes to the rooftop, which is still technically part of the building and only accessible to residents. By doing this, the youngster gets all of the goodness of looking down on the city while outdoors. 

Problem-solving Skills

Jonathan Dean’s book is short but sweet. Not only do kids get to see incredible illustrations, but youngsters also have the opportunity to be empowered by a character who looks like them and makes independent decisions. At Night is a great book for parents to read to little ones who need to learn that they, too, can think creatively. 

Just For Kids

While anyone can read Jonathan Bean’s story and appreciate the little girl’s determination to get a good night’s rest, toddlers would especially enjoy this book because of the pictures and simple words. It would not be far-fetched to use At Night by Jonathan Bean to teach boys and girls how to read. 

At the same time, kids who already know how to read may find this book a bit too simple. Little ones over the age of seven years old would likely read through Bean’s story and yearn for more. They may even ask questions as to why the little girl decides to go to the roof for a good night’s sleep instead of trying other remedies inside the family home. 

Still, Bean’s book is a great addition to a parent’s storytime collection.