The House in the Night

Written by Susan Marie Swanson

Illustrated by Beth Krommes

Houghton Mifflin Company, 2008

Genre: Children's picture book; rhyming; poem

Reading Level: ages 3 to 6

40 pages

The House in the Night is set up like an illustrated poem, and according to the author is based off of an old nursery rhyme from the Oxford Nursery Rhyme Book, published in 1955. It describes an object and then how that object relates to another. It's hard to explain, but it starts out, "Here is the key to the house. In the house burns a light. In that light rests a bed. On that bed waits a book. In that book flies a bird." And so on until it circles back to describe the house full of light in the night.

I would recommend this book to any child who likes fast paced rhyming poems and fun illustrations.

I felt there were no conflicts that could have come from this book.

I rather enjoyed this book. The poem was unique and intriguing, and the pictures were just delightful and very unique with only three colors used to emphasize the light of the moon and in the house.

My rating: 4 out of 5