Happy book birthday to WELCOME, DARK by Charis St. Pierre and illustrated by Rachel Wada, out today from Orca Book Publishers!
“A beautifully and sweetly written story…Parents and children alike will reach for this comforting bedtime story that is set to become a classic.” ― CM: Canadian Review of Materials
In this poetic picture book, young readers are invited to explore the sounds of nighttime and find comfort in them instead of fear.
As a young child falls asleep, the night comes alive. Animals hide and leaves blow, seeds are spread and crops are watered, and the world wakes anew in the morning. Focusing on the necessity of nighttime, this beautiful book showcases the night, along with its sometimes scary sounds, through new eyes. Stunning illustrations from an award-winning illustrator complement each spread as the poetry balances the magic and mystery of nighttime with the comforting stillness of being tucked safely indoors.
Rachel Wada’s debut as a children’s illustrator, The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota’s Garden, written by Heather Smith(Orca Book Publishers, 2019)received the Freeman Award for Children’s Literature and won the Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award. From the Tops of the Trees, written by Kao Kalia Yang (Carolrhoda Books, 2021) received four starred reviews. Her multicultural background and her experience as an immigrant to Canada inform and inspire her artistic practice.Rachel lives in Vancouver and is represented by Amy Tompkins.