Review of Safely Through the Night, by Elena Pasquali

Safely Through the Night

written by Elena Pasquali

illustrated by Dubravka Kolanovic

Lion Hudson Plc

0745960472

July 2007

Hardcover, 32 pages

Safely Through the Night is an enchanting, magical bedtime story about a little girl following a starbeam through the night.

Not alone on this magical quest, her teddy bear Cinammon and her blankie, Hug, go with her.

Our tale begins as our little protagonist, Emily, sitting in bed and looking at the night sky, suddenly sees a shooting star. She snuggles with Cinammon and Hug, falls asleep... and the adventure begins: A starbeam knocks on her window, Emily reaches for it and begins to wind it up like wool. Through the night and the clouds they travel, through the trees and the dark woods, faster and faster... until, high up, Emily mets her angel.

Dreamlike, ethereal illustrations in soft pastel colors accompany this wonderful story that children will love to listen to again and again. The artwork--more specifically, the star and the starbeam--has glitter and texture, making the pages fun to touch. The mood is quiet yet uplifting, making this a perfect bedtime story.

Safely Through the Night would make a lovely holiday gift or be a worthy addition to any home or classroom library.

Reviewed by Mayra Calvani

This review originally appeared on Armchair Interviews.