Night and the Candlemaker
Gr 1-3-Night, depicted as a sort of long, undulating, blue carpet, slips into the candlemaker's house and declares, "Your work is useless! My darkness can overpower whatever amount of light you may kindle during your brief life span." After threats of extinguishing the flame by wind and snow, neither of which faze the serene, contemplative man, Night swirls away, demanding to know what the candlemaker is doing. "`Making tomorrow,' replied the candlemaker." One imagines that this dialogue is intended to inspire steadfast hope in readers. It is questionable whether many children living in the peaceful, bucolic environment depicted in Bartram's acrylic paintings will have any experience with the sort of despair Somary seems to be attempting to dispel in his text. This story may provide solace for readers suffering from grief-but only if they are able to apply its metaphors to their own situation. It's more likely that this New Age-tinged picture book will escape their understanding altogether.-Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Public Library, NYCopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.