Publishers Weekly
★ 01/30/2023
In this twined variation of several Mesoamerican stories, the earth’s firmament is lit every evening thanks to Rabbit, who climbs down the Great Ceiba’s trunk and treks across the “sea-ringed world” to gather aguamiel, the “precious, glowing nectar... of the first and holy maguey.” Rabbit then pours the gleaming liquid into the moon, portrayed as a double-handled gourd. But when crafty Opossum cracks the moon and steals the aguamiel for himself, the orb loses its radiance, and the now-regretful animal must find a way to illuminate the world. Having been caught out by Rabbit, Opossum makes a trek of his own: “searching for that fire/ prepared by mighty gods/ as a gift for future humans/ who might shiver in the dark.” Bowles’s unhurried lines offer a playfully elegant feel to the telling, while Álvarez’s saturated digitized paintings use a limited palette to imagine long-eared, gray Rabbit and pointy-nosed, rust-hued Opossum against luminous leafy landscapes. Together, the collaborators create a dreamlike story variation that truly shines. An authors’ note details the story’s roots. English and Spanish versions publish simultaneously. Ages 4–8. Agent: (for Álvarez) Janet Soto Centeno and Susana Figueroa, Fondo de Cultura Económica. (Mar.)
From the Publisher
Álvarez’s illustrations alone are enough to make this stunning picture book a winner—the dreamy feel of the milky moonlight against the deep-dark night and the crisp simplicity of the animals and their world is masterful. When paired with interwoven traditional Mesoamerican tales of the magic and power of our lunar companion, the story sings, enchanting readers with its mystery and beauty. Don’t miss this one!” — Southern Bookseller Review
[STAR] “Bowles’ spare, evocative text flows like poetry… Álvarez’s compositions are sophisticated and uncluttered… beautifully crafted, gently stylized figures so remarkably textured that you can almost count the number of hairs on Rabbit’s body. Ancient Night is wondrous, sparkling and easily one of the best picture books of 2023.”
— BookPage (starred)
“Vivid and vibrant.” – NPR Weekend Edition
“David Alvarez and David Bowles draw on several traditional stories of Mesoamerica (now known as Mexico and Central America) to craft, through stunning art and lyrical text, a picture book sure to become a classic.” – Mary Quattlebaum, Washington Parent
[STAR] "Bolstered by the ethereal, whimsical text, the plush, incandescent acrylic and oil paint artwork gathers the subtleties and splendors of nighttime and the plant life that surrounds Rabbit and Opossum. Together words and images tug readers along at a measured pace. An excellent authors’ note underscores how common strands and crucial differences from wide-ranging Mesoamerican legends and myths furnish the inspiration at the roots of this tale. Like a mighty dream recalled from time gone by.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred)
[STAR] “Mesmerizing. Captivating. Enchanting.” —School Library Journal (starred)
"A perfect bedtime read aloud. This Mesoamerican-inspired fable borrows from old tales for a larger-than-life yet soothingly illustrated picture book.”— Shelf-Awareness
[STAR] “Stunning illustrations by acclaimed Mexican artist Álvarez feature a velvety black backdrop of a sky, stars providing only pinpricks of light...spellbinding, poetic text is lyrical but crisp.” — Horn Book (starred)
[STAR] “Unmissable…The breathtaking illustrations exude light themselves…” — Foreword Reviews (starred)
“A calming selection for evening lap reads and storytimes.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
[STAR] “Bowles’s unhurried lines offer a playfully elegant feel to the telling, while Álvarez’s saturated digitized paintings use a limited palette to imagine long-eared, gray Rabbit and pointy-nosed, rust-hued Opossum against luminous leafy landscapes. Together, the collaborators create a dreamlike story variation that truly shines.” — Publishers Weekly (starred)
Horn Book 2023 Summer Reading List
School Library Journal
★ 01/01/2023
PreS-Gr 2—Mesmerizing illustrations combine with poetic text to share this Mesoamerican-inspired story about how the sun came to be high in the sky. Rabbit takes care to watch over the moon, ensuring it never stops glowing and refilling it often with aguamiel. When Opossum sees this, he wishes to have some of the aguamiel, but as he takes for himself, the moon grows darker. Ashamed, Opossum hides until he decides to obtain the fire of the gods, singeing his tail in the process, and places the fire high in the sky—now the new sun. Luminous acrylic and oil illustrations bring the night to life, with the glow of the moon and the aguamiel lighting up the world for Rabbit and Opossum, and dark blues, greens, and reds adding to the captivating atmosphere. Enchanting text presents the tale in short, clear sentences that convey a sense of timeless mystery and beauty. A note from the creators shares some of the traditional stories that inspired the picture book. VERDICT An excellent choice for picture book collections that uniquely explores traditional Mesoamerican tales and is sure to inspire the wish for further discovery and appreciation.—Selenia Paz
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2022-12-24
In Álvarez and Bowles’ folkloric collaboration, the moon stands alone in the vast night sky, tended by caring Rabbit and envied by clever Opossum.
Amid the stars, the moon—resembling a large, round jug—sits, radiant with a milky white light. Rabbit keeps the moon luminous, journeying up and down the Great Ceiba’s trunk to collect aguamiel, the “precious, glowing nectar that brims in the heart of the first and holy maguey” (an agave plant). When the moon wanes and dims, Rabbit pours aguamiel into it to return its lustrous light. Covetous Opossum strikes, cracking the moon to sap the aguamiel. Observing the darkened night sky, Rabbit finds Opossum drinking the nectar. “Foolish Opossum, what have you done?” Rabbit yells out. Filled with regret, Opossum heads deep into the earth to gather a mighty fire. From there on, the tale of Rabbit and Opossum slips into a cozy truce, altogether expected yet richly gratifying. Bolstered by the ethereal, whimsical text, the plush, incandescent acrylic and oil paint artwork gathers the subtleties and splendors of nighttime and the plant life that surrounds Rabbit and Opossum. Together words and images tug readers along at a measured pace. An excellent authors’ note underscores how common strands and crucial differences from wide-ranging Mesoamerican legends and myths furnish the inspiration at the roots of this tale. Publishessimultaneously in Spanish.(This book was reviewed digitally.)
Like a mighty dream recalled from time gone by. (Picture book. 4-8)
