Smoky Night

Bunting, Eve. (1994). Smokey Night. Illus. David Diaz. Orlando, Florida: Harcourt Books.

Brief Annotation: Late one night, a young boy and his mom watch from the window of their apartment as a riot erupts outside. The boy is scared but his mother tells him to try and sleep. They awake suddently to the smell of smoke and run from the apartment. The boy realizes that his cat, Jasmine, is missing, and becomes quite upset as they seek refuge in a shelter, where he sees another person who lives in their apartment building, also missing her cat. Through the night the people are reunited with their lost ones, and an important message about acceptance and equality is delivered.

Genre: Picturebook/Eve Bunting

Grade Level: 2-6

Readers who will like this: Teachers and readers who enjoy realism, teachers who are teaching about riots or history relating to riots,

Response/Rating (1-4): ***. I was really surprised at how this book handled a very mature subject in a very easy way. Each page is interesting to look at and the story is told in a simplistic nature, allowing the book to be read by many ages. The message at the end is strong and important, though it may be lost on some younger readers.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: What is the definition of a "riot"? Why do riots begin and can this connect to any current events?