THE HOUSE IN THE NIGHT-Genre 1

Bibliography

Swanson, Susan Marie. 2008. The House in the Night. Ill. Beth Krommes. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 978-0-618-86244-3

Plot Summary

This story was inspired by a poem from The OxfordNursery Rhyme Book. The poem began "This is the key of the kingdom". It has a very simple text with only a few words. The words are very soothing. The child is given a key to the house where a light burns. The child goes to their room and finds a book with a bird that magically flies the child through the dark sky. There are lights throughout the dark sky. The story comes back to the key and the house in the night where it began.

Critical Analysis

The author uses his favorite poem to create this story. The author uses familiar words in the child's home, and very simple sentences. It begins with the sun setting, but then the moon has all of the light. The illustrations are black and white scratchboard, but they are decorated in gold color representing light. The night is never all dark. There is light in the house and in the world. It gives a child the feeling of security. This book is a bedtime story that allows the child to feel safe at home before sleeping.

Review Excerpt

Randolph Caldecott Medal 2009

"A beautiful piece of bookmaking that will delight both parents and children."— Ilene Cooper

Connections

-This story can be used to teach prepositional phrases in grammar.