UNDER ONE ROOF

Families in different circumstances and varied locales welcome bedtime under the same nighttime sky.

On one page, a family enjoys milk and cookies together, while on another, a different child snuggles up as Grandma reads a story. Elsewhere, others are missing loved ones, like a sister away serving in the military or a caregiver working the late shift. “Some apartments and houses sit empty today”: One family has been displaced by natural disaster, another is traveling, and yet another welcomes a new baby at the hospital. Whether in a bed, on a ship, or by a tent, families of all shapes and sizes can find comfort in the commonality of “a roof made of moonbeams and twinkling stars” as they say goodnight. Careful viewers will spy an owl soaring through the dark blue evening sky, visiting these diverse families. The calming cool tones of Neal’s appealing illustrations, paired with the Pauls’ soothing, rhyming verse, make this a lovely choice for a bedtime story. An especially stunning spread depicts the northern lights; throughout, cozy comforts and loving embraces contribute to a warm and hopeful tone. Emphasizing love, compassion, and connection, this story will be particularly comforting to children experiencing hardship.

A gentle, reassuring bedtime book that encourages readers to feel solace in the stars above and the love that is all around.