Take a luminous bedtime journey through the summery dreamworld of a restless baby in this enchanting picture book lullaby. In the tradition of bedtime classics like Goodnight Moon, this gorgeous book with a cloth-like spine is the perfect gift for new parents.Fireflies and mystic moonMystic moon and brilliant nightfilled with friends and firelightOn a hot summer night, Mother Moon soothes a little star baby who won't go to sleep. With her magic, she spins a warm, lyrical tale of friendship and fun: a dreamy summer evening set beneath a blanket of twinkling stars as children and forest friends with balloons enjoy a country fair with a carousel and caramel apples before taking a fantastical trolley ride to a marvelous, light-filled destination.
A captivating book, sure to be picked up night after night, that will send all little star babies off to dreamland.
On sale: May 27, 2025
Age: 2-5 years
Grade: Up to Kindergarten
Page count: 40 Pages
ISBN: 9781774883662
SHAUNTAY GRANT is an award-winning author, poet, playwright, interdisciplinary artist and associate professor of creative writing at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. Her picture books include
My Fade Is Fresh and
Africville. In writing
Bright Lights and Summer Nights, Shauntay was inspired by Margaret Wise Brown’s
Goodnight Moon.
ZACH MANBECK is an artist and children’s book author and illustrator based in Pennsylvania. He made his picture book debut with
You Are Here. Zach was inspired by the film
The Wizard of Oz and the paintings of Maxfield Parrish and Vincent van Gogh for his art in
Bright Lights and Summer Nights.
An Amazon Best Book of June for Ages 3-5 Pick"[W]ends from pleasantly pedestrian to fantastical and transcendent; this is the kind of restorative dream one hopes to have."
—STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews
"Crisp, rhythmic phrasing from Grant and luminous, emerald-hued artwork by Manbeck chart a child’s enchanted summertime dreams in this vividly rendered picture book. . . . As the story zooms back out, a portrait of the child curled up on a cloud warmly invites readers to drift off themselves."
—STARRED REVIEW, Publishers Weekly
"[A] lovely addition to the tradition of bedtime books that imagine a world of excitement and impossible wonders once the sun goes down."
—Booklist
"[A] lyrical bedtime book with golden mixed-media art that depicts a child busy with his toy box who allows himself to be carried off by a magical Mother Moon figure through a starry sky into a dreamlike playland filled with familiar toy characters, where he is finally lulled to sleep."
—Montreal Gazette
