Grandfather Twilight

One of the most beautifully written bedtime stories and mythilogical explanations for how the moon rises. The pictures are beautiful and the story is achingly sweet. Reading it almost brings me to tears. My daughters and I regularly read this one as our bedtime story but I would also use it as a discussion on mythology. The lesson could include older or classic myths and then end with the students creating their own. I may actually do this as an "at home" assignment with my daughter.

This is quite a special book, a quiet story of changing, of beauty, of remembering, and feeling at peace with yourself.

Grandfather Twilight lives in the forest. Every night he has a very special task before venturing out of his cottage to then return to his cottage and the gentle hush embracing all. Twilight is a special time, a time of quiet admiration of all surroundings as they change. His dog leads the way through the woods and they both walk to the special place, and of returning to his home.

Taking a key to open the wooden chest filled with many, many pearls, Grandfather Twilight takes one single pearl from the very large strand. Holding the round white pearl gently in his hand, he observes that the pearl expands to grow larger show more every step that they take.

This is a time of soft whispers, and bitty birds as they make welcoming soulful sounds. With every step he takes in the forest of twilight, he becomes more white and glimmering as together the pearl is surrounded with silence and peace as it is gently given to the sea. Then, the very bright pearl shines as a moon on the horizon. The waves gently lap on the sand as the light embraces them.

Peacefully, Grandfather Twilight has finished his task and he and the dog tenderly walk home to where the cat awaits them with an open door. And now, all are ready for bed and for the feeling of peaceful serenity.

This is a lovely book transforming the reader from the night to the gloaming of the sea, the sky, the path, and all who allow the peace to enter.

Four and 1/2 stars show less

A simply beautiful, beautifully simple tale in few words of how the moon appears in the sky each night. The illustrations are the star here. A perfect bedtime story for the very young.

This book has a strange concept, but it totally worked for me, and my daughter (20 months ) loved it too. The illustrations are beautiful, it has a plot, and the topic of the moon is of great interest to my little toddler. This book makes me feel a sense of wonder at the world.

In this picture book, Barbara Berger describes how the moon comes to be every night. When the nighttime is imminent, Grandfather Twilight puts down his book and grabs a pearl from his wooden chest of pearls. Then he walks through the forest as the pearl enlarges within the palm of his hand, a stream of illumination flowing from his backside. Once he reaches the sea, he sends the pearl outward, it becomes the glowing moon. I loved this picture book. It gives a mythical tale for how the moon comes to be every night, and does with an innocent elegance. This book tucks one into bed, he softly drifting into pleasant dream as gradually the pages turn. The simplicity characterizes the stillness of night, along with the progression into such. show more Grandfather Twilight is relied upon by the creatures of the forest to bring about moonlight; this necessity is reflected as such by the aura of illumination which follows behind his every step. The artwork is very cloudy, mystical in its prose, soft and simple. It gives the feeling of a divinity at work, through the father-figure-like man begotten Grandfather Twilight, whose benevolence is accredited by the nature in which he resides. He possesses a grand love, a divine love, which resonates from his being, implying that he is no more man, than spirit. show less

Published in 1984 this luminous picture book for children written and illustrated by the talented Barbara Berger has been a beloved favorite in my home.
Painted in acrylic, the peaceful and colorful pictures in this book are reproduced in the same size as the originals and are displayed throughout the book in full page and double page spreads. Smaller paintings accompany the text on pages where it appears.

A gentle bedtime story that will appeal to children from toddlers through elementary school is told in very simple language and in few words. The illustrations speak volumes as the poetic language leads the imagery. I feel the twenty five short pages in this story book are a perfect length to quietly and lovingly calm a little one show more into sleepy time.

It is the story of Grandfather Twilight who "lives among the trees." The first illustration shows a welcoming open doorway in the trees that leads to a peach and blue sky of early twilight. When we step through this door we see kind elderly Grandfather Twilight in his comfortable easy chair reading while his cat and dog and a bird look on. There are no walls or ceilings in his home, only the lovely shadows and lights of the green forest. When day is done, Grandfather Twilight closes the book he's reading, puts on his jacket, combs his beard and opens up a large chest that is filled with many strands of pearls. He selects one pearl and then goes for a walk, holding the pearl in his hand. With each of his steps the pearl grows in size until he eventually reaches the sea. As the story says, "Gently, he gives the pearl to the silence above the sea." As Grandfather Twilight and his dog look out across the foamy waves we see the pearl has become a shining full moon.

The simplicity of this story and its gentle night-time message is very soothing for children and my boys enjoyed hearing it over and over again. Grandfather Twilight seems gentle and his animal friends are glad to walk with him on his nightly journey. Visual metaphor and symbolic images are the especial talents of this gifted painter and Barbara Berger has published many titles for children that incorporate these skills but I think this one is her very best. Grandfather Twilight glows with soft pastel colors of sunset and he wears those same peaceful colors and we also see them on his quilt when he goes to sleep after his nightly task is completed.

We can easily see that Grandfather Twilight is a friend to Nature, is caring and gentle toward the environment and the little beings that inhabit the planet's forests and seashores. We can see that he cares about clear skies and that his gifts are given freely to everyone on the planet.

I love this book's gentle message and I love to visit the illustrations again and again for their serene feeling of wholeness and peace. show less

This was one of my many favorites as a child. I believe that I love the story just as much as I do the illustrations. There is just something about a book like this to give you a general feeling of peace, especially as a young child. If ever you were afraid of the dark, this book will help you to realize that twilight is a serene time and can be enjoyed by all of us. A definite must-have for small children and adults alike.