{"product_id":"ancient-night-9781646142514","title":"Ancient Night","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e Best of the Year \u003cbr\u003e BookPage Best of the Year \u003cbr\u003e Junior Library Guild Gold Standard \u003cbr\u003e Evanston Library Best of the Year \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eHorn Book\u003c\/i\u003e 2023 Summer Reading List \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Vivid and vibrant.\" \u003cb\u003e--NPR Weekend Edition \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eAt the start of things, the elders say, \u003cbr\u003e the universe was hushed and still. \u003cbr\u003e The moon alone shone bright and round in the star-speckled dark of the sky.\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e David Álvarez is one of the most extraordinary artists working today. His black-and-white illustrations have gained fame in his home country of Mexico and around the world. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Here, in \u003ci\u003eAncient Night\u003c\/i\u003e (\u003ci\u003eNoche Antigua\u003c\/i\u003e), David displays his immense talent with full-color illustrations for the first time. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eAncient Night\u003c\/i\u003e is a twist on two Nahuatl traditions: the rabbit which the Feathered Serpent placed on the moon, and Yaushu, the Lord Opossum who ruled the earth before humans came, and who stole fire from the gods to create the sun. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Award-winning author David Bowles has written a poetic text - and carefully researched backmatter - to accompany David's lush illustrations and story. Published simultaneously in English and Spanish editions, \u003ci\u003eAncient Night offers \u003c\/i\u003eyoung readers everywhere the chance to savor this ancient tale in its most beautiful format possible. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eP R A I S E \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e ★ \"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.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eKirkus\u003c\/i\u003e (starred)\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e ★ \"Luminous acrylic and oil illustrations bring the night to life... Enchanting text presents the tale in short, clear sentences that convey a sense of timeless mystery and beauty... 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.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e (starred)\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e ★ \"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.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eBookPage \u003c\/i\u003e(starred)\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e ★ \"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.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e (starred)\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e ★ \"Unmissable... The breathtaking illustrations exude light themselves...\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eForeword Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e (starred)\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e ★ \"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.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eHorn Book\u003c\/i\u003e (starred)\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"A calming selection for evening lap reads and storytimes.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eBCCB\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"A perfect bedtime read aloud. This Mesoamerican-inspired fable borrows from old tales for a larger-than-life yet soothingly illustrated picture book.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eShelf-Awareness\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Exquisite.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e--Melissa Taylor, \u003ci\u003eImagination Soup\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"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!\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e--Southern Bookseller Review \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDavid Álvarez\u003c\/b\u003e is a graduate of the School of Design of the National Institute of Fine Arts of Mexico (EDINBA) and the winner of numerous international illustration awards. \u003ci\u003eAncient Night\u003c\/i\u003e is his first book published in English. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eDavid Bowles\u003c\/b\u003e is a Mexican American author and translator from South Texas. Among his multiple award-winning books are \u003ci\u003eFeathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexico\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThey Call Me Güero\u003c\/i\u003e. His translation of \u003ci\u003eThe Sea-Ringed World\u003c\/i\u003e garnered a Batchelder Honor and was a finalist for the International Latino Book Award. In 2017, David was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Levine Querido","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50576179200274,"sku":"9781646142514","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_0e06680d-d24c-4799-88a1-4e94c26c8ec4.jpg?v=1731991265","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/ancient-night-9781646142514","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}