Smoky Night

Bunting, E. (1994). Smoky Night. Orlando, Florida: HarcourtBooks.

Brief Annotation: As smoke fills the air from the Los Angeles riots, a young boy, Daniel and his mother watch from their apartment window. Daniel is scared, but his mother assures him that they will be safe. A knock on their front door in the middle of the night brings terrible news; the building is on fire! Daniel and his mother, along with several neighbors, take refuge in a shelter. It is a safe haven from the night’s violence, but it also represents acceptance, bringing the community together and breaking through cultural barriers.

Genre: Historical Fiction, picturebook

Grade Level: K through Grade 3

Readers who will like this: Children who would benefit from a story that teaches acceptance, children who are learning about historical events that focus on issues of cultural diversity

Response/Rating (1-4): 4, This wonderful picturebook combines rich textured illustrations with heartfelt text. The historical events in the story chronicle the horrible effects of intolerance. Using this event as background to the story, the author shows young readers that all people, no matter their culture or ethnicity, suffer alike when prejudice dominates. The story ends with simple words from Daniel and allows readers to reflect on the idea that people can set aside differences and come together. The book would be a wonderful addition to classroom discussions on cultural diversity and acceptance, its central theme is timeless.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Have you heard of other events (in history) where people did not get along? What happened? Was there someone who helped them to become friends?