Teddy Newton

The book version of "Day and Night" is very much like the movie, and I'm pretty sure kids who have seen the Pixar short (see it at YouTube) will enjoy it.

One of the reasons to pick up this book is that it more clearly explains Day and Night's story. I mention this because, honestly, after we left the movies -- it was a super large family gathering with people ranging from age 8 to 78 -- it became apparent that some of us (who shall remain nameless ; ) didn't understand what the story was about.

So having a book that has a few words added ought to help children (and adults) realize that Day and Night, who initially didn't hit it off, came to understand that they did have some things in common, and that though they were different, that wasn't a bad thing at all, but a really wondrous thing.

THE SKINNY:::
"Day and Night" seems like a sturdy book. The slick black pages show the images well; although honestly I think they could have been larger in some cases. For example, there is one picture where sheep are jumping a fence inside Night. Even with my reading glasses on they were hard to make. Although my kids certainly spotted them quickly enough.

The book doesn't have a great deal of verbiage but its enough to explain the story.

Sample text:
"But then, quite unexpectedly, DAY came across and odd little figure. 'Huh?'
DAY didn't now it, but he was looking at NIGHT.
DAY thought it would be safer to just walk on by.
YIKES!"

I'm having a difficult time figuring out how many stars to give this book. In some ways it's an excellent book to read to young children. DAY and NIGHT are fun. They are exotic characters that tumble and fight in a way children understand. And yet I don't know how well the book would go over with kids that have not seen the short. We enjoyed it though.

Pam T~
mom and blogger… (meer)