Owen Davey

“Night Knight” turns an ordinary bedtime routine into an adventure. The narrator, a boy in striped yellow pajamas, does all of the usual things: picks up his things, takes a bath, brushes his teeth. But the pictures tell a much more exciting story. Instead of toys, the boy has treasure. The tub is a sea teeming with creatures big and small. And why brush in the bathroom when you can do it while crossing a crocodile-filled moat? The illustrations are gorgeous: rich hues of tangerine and show more rust on collages of cut paper. The disconnect between the printed word and the presented image is often humorous. Imagine the boy, in knight’s armor, scaling a tower when it is time to “climb into bed.” Although there are only a handful of words per spread, readers could become immersed in the illustrations — much to the chagrin of parents trying to get their own adventurers to sleep. So, although it’s a tale of going to bed, it’s best not to limit this open-ended adventure of a book to the nightstand. show less

LOVED this.

the visuals of this book were stunning, the shark facts were awesome and interesting while not being overwhelming. the designs on the page and the pacing were super inviting. i felt super curious and now i have all these shark questions i must totally google!

a perfect non-fiction read for the lil kiddo in your life.

Having explored sharks and monkeys, Davey turns his attention - and graphic art skills - to cats.

The book opens with a general explanation of some of the terms used like habitat, obligate carnivore, and a few simple notes on the general nature of cats. It shows the evolution of felids, including domesticated cats and sabre-toothed tigers. There are diagrams of cats showing how they are adapted to be hunters and to survive in their various harsh environments. Many of the illustrations have a show more seek-and-find aspect, none more so than the spread on camouflage where kids can search for five cats hidden in the images. The book then features interesting facts about a wide variety of cats from margays to tigers. There are comparisons of the biggest, smallest, and fastest, spreads of some rare and wonderful cats, some information on kittens, and cats in mythology. Back matter consists of a detailed index.

Owen Davey's stylized art is perfectly suited to this exploration of the world of big cats. The rich hues of orange, brown, and red are blended to create not only stunning portraits of cats and their unique patterned coats but also of their backgrounds, making every page a fun exercise in hide-and-seek. The text is really secondary to the illustrations, which will both charm and enthrall cat-lovers of all ages.

There are a few drawbacks to the text - some of it is light and placed against dark backgrounds does not show up well, making it easy to skip some of the words. The book is clearly British in origin, with metric measurements throughout and an odd use of the word "wee" for urine. The evolutionary tree is laid out a little oddly, making it look like all cats evolved from the modern tiger. There are no sources for the information included.

Verdict: While I wouldn't suggest this title for research purposes, it's a superb book for browsing and poring over with friends or alone, which is what it is designed for. I catalog this series in my picture book animal neighborhoods, where kids looking for cat books to read on their own or with an adult are sure to discover and enjoy it. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781911171164; Published 2017 by Flying Eye Books; Review copy provided by the publisher; Donated to the library show less

Laika is a stray dog on the streets of Moscow who wishes for a family to love her. Instead, a group of scientists train her to go into space, where her rocket malfunctioned and lost touch with Earth. "But Laika was not lost at all. Laika had been found," by a loving, humanoid-alien family.

Author's note includes a photo of the real Laika, a note about Laika and Sputnik, and an alternative ending: "Though many think Laika perished, this story, with its happen ending for the brave little dog, show more is the one I choose to believe." Digital illustrations in navy, yellow-orange, and dim green evoke a Soviet style. show less