I so appreciate the way Polly Faber sustains this narrative using reader curiosity. On the first page mum heads off the work. We are told she has "an important job to do". Then over the following ten double page spreads our narrator, her daughter, talks about all the people who work through the night in her city but of course as a reader we really want to know where mum has gone.
I loved the way the child gives each worker a personal name. Sammy is an office cleaner; Georgio is a security guard (I have a soft spot for security guards which I always link with the book Corduroy); Hassan and Amina are police on patrol; Kisi is a news reporter; Lem plays the saxophone in a band on an outdoor stage; Eva sells hot pies, coffee and doughnuts from her van; Ravi is a delivery diver; Luigi uses flour and eggs to make bread ready for breakfast tomorrow; Jonny, Dot and Isaac complete repairs to the trainline: Dani and Todd drive their ambulance to the hospital where Fiona works to welcome new babies to the world. But what about Mum? What has she been doing all night?
Sorry I am not going to tell you except to say there is a hint on the front cover and on every page! Oh and we have diversity done so naturally and women and men in all kinds of roles (no stereotypes here).
You can see inside this book on the Nosy Crow (they do such fabulous books) page. Here is a video where Polly Faber talks about her book (perfect to share with a young class). Polly Faber is the author of the charming book series Mango and Bambang. You can see more art from All Through the Night on the illustrator (Harriet Hobday) web site.
A comforting bedtime story, especially if parents are heading out to work. ... This reassuring tale also calls attention to people who might be overlooked. Kirkus
Read All Through the Night alongside these:
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