When the Stars Come Out: Exploring the Magic and Mysteries of the Night-Time

Can birds sleep in the air? Do dogs dream? What happens in deserts at night, and why do Scandinavian nurseries let their infants have naps outside? What is Walpurgisnacht and how many hours' sleep do children in South Korea get?

This is an original theme for an illustrated nonfiction book - there are now very many lovely illustration books about nature and world cultures available for children, but not many that consider nature and culture against the filter of a daily phenomenon such as night time. And, though we experience it every 24 hours, what do we really know about night, apart from that it gets dark and we can see the moon and stars?

Luckily, this fascinating book explores the theme of night across a number of different categories: what animals do at night, different environments at night, how we sleep, moon phases, cultural festivals that celebrate the night and even mythical creatures that are said to inhabit it. The big hardback format makes it feel special and exciting, and information is presented clearly and harmoniously with Cartwright's graphic yet warm and cosy illustration.