YOU AND I ARE STARS AND NIGHT

Bedtime preparations kick off a romp through the imagination.

In a maritime village where “the wind is calling,” an unnamed brown-skinned adult and child begin their nightly regimen. While the little one bathes, the adult, holding a toy boat, asks, “Will you sail away with me?” As they embark on a journey “over lands unknown” and “restless waters,” Hosford’s verse employs a simple yet effective AABB rhyme scheme, each spread ending with the phrase “You and I are…” that compares the protagonists to something they recently explored: “salt and sea,” “egg and nest,” “stars and night.” Caregiver and child reinforce their bond as they play hide-and-seek in a colorful forest, scale mountains, and finally return home. As bathtime becomes bedtime, the child gently falls asleep, assured of the parent’s love and devotion. Hosford’s soothing first-person text, told from the perspective of the grown-up, combines with the comforting deep blues and greens of Jones’ digitally finished acrylic and watercolor illustrations for a natural bedtime read that’s also likely to be a popular gift among new parents. Observant readers will see the child’s toys making appearances throughout, adding another layer to a lovely reading experience.

A soothing, poetic look at a common nighttime routine.