NIGHT LUNCH

A nighttime lunch leaves readers filled with vocabulary words.

Subtly toned digital illustrations welcome readers to a nostalgia-tinged town where a horse pulls the “Night Owl” cart to provide meals for the nocturnal animal residents. The chef, a literal owl, prepares different meals for different creatures: A fox in a top hat dines on a mince pie, while a badger snacks on a sandwich and fries, moths devour eggs, and a possum with a passel of joeys purchases puddings. At the foot of each page, a short sentence appears underneath the illustration and frequently includes an unfamiliar word crying out to be defined, repeated, and memorized, such as aglow, shuffle, sizzling, and brightening. They’re not wholly unusual words, but they may be unfamiliar enough that a good storyteller will be able to coax a few open-ended questions out of the tale. The illustrations have a scratch-art or pen-and-ink vibe that feels part Sendak and part Gorey, with the slightest dash of Van Allsburg thrown in for good measure. Adults and children alike who appreciate a quiet read will enjoy the subtle nuances of the book and the soft warmth of the characters. This is a good choice for a pajama storytime or bedtime tale, though it may leave readers craving their own midnight snacks. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A tasty little treat.