Nightsong by Ari Berk

Nightsong Reviews

• 
  Amy Lutchen

  SEEING THIS BOOK ON THE SHELVES AT KIDDOS' BOOK FAIR=INSTA-LOVE.
  
  The cover is GORGEOUS (the GR pic doesn't do it justice), and I was so happy to see that the story inside was just as enjoyable.
  
  I might just stalk the cover artist O_O and beg them for MORE!
• 
  Dolly

  This is a sweet tale about a youngster growing up and his mom letting him go to explore on his own. To this end, it's probably just as good of a story for parents as it is for children. The story also teaches a bit about echolocation without actually mentioning it, and children can learn how bats can 'see' in the dark.
  
  The illustrations are dark and convey Chiro's inability to visually discern his surroundings. They help to convey the scary world that Chiro flies out into, but also a world that becomes more clear as he learns how to use his extra senses. The depiction of Chiro himself is adorable and he is a very likable character. We recognized the illustrator's work from books like
  Otis.
  
  The only complaint I had was that we had no idea how to pronounce his name. We vacilated between 'kiro' and 'chiro' (both with long i sounds) throughout the story and I never really liked either. I naturally tended to pronounce it 'kiro,' like the beginning of chiropractor, but our girls insisted it was 'chiro,' with the 'ch' prefix emphasized. It wasn't until we read the author's note at the end that we discovered that the name is pronounced cheer-o, and was chosen as an homage to the latin word for bat, Chiroptera. It is made up of two Greek words meaning hand (cheiros) and wing (pteros). Oh. That would have been a helpful note to read before we started the story.
  
  Overall, we thought this was a very nice tale and the illustrations were terrific. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
• 
  Brittany

  
  
  Sense is the song you sing out into the world,
  and the song the world sings back to you.
  
  With these words, Chiro’s mother sends him off into the night for the first time alone. It’s an adventure, but how will he find his way? And how will he find his way home? As the young bat discovers, navigating the world around him is easy as long as he uses his good sense.
  
  I picked this up at our local library. I was walking past it and the cover just sang to me... This was a sweet story about making choices, and wise decisions when you are left to your own devices. I was so drawn to the illustration of the cover and so glad that the inside did not disappoint.
  
  I used this to go along with a unit study for my daughters homeschool. We talked about the 5 senses and how important listening is. I would recommend this book!! My daughter really enjoyed it.
• 
  Set

  This is an adorable book about a baby bat that is getting to know the world though echolocation and exploring around.
• 
  Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy)

  Long's illustrations are beautiful though I don't know any bats that are as cute as Chiro.
• 
  Abigail

  Chiro the bat is sent out into the nighttime world by his mother in this lovely picture-book examination of echolocation. Instructed to use his song to find the local pond and eating place, he sets out, hesitant at first and then more confident, as his song sends back information about the world around him. Once he has reached the pond and had his dinner, he even sets out to explore further, reaching the coast and flying out over the sea, before heading home once again...
  
  Featuring an engaging story of a young bat finding his way in the world for the first time, Nightsong is a book which can be used to launch a discussion of how bats use echolocation, even though Ari Berk never uses that term in his poetic text. It pairs an exciting nighttime adventure with engrossing, appropriately dark illustrations, done in acrylic and graphite, from artist Loren Long. Recommended to all young animal lovers, and to anyone looking for picture-books about bats and/or echolocation.
• 
  Steff Fox

  Nightsong and the reason I picked up this book are, for me, a study in things art reminds us of. You know, I’m sure, those touching moments in which you see something and instantly think back to a person or a memory through which you can now experience this new visual.
  
  I thought of a friend when I first saw Nightsong.
  
  I don’t think the book, as a whole, did a whole lot that impressed me, though I do love the cleverness to the art. But I think back to this friend, who loves bats, and I realize that if she ever does have a child one day that I will send her this book and know she’ll love it.
  
  So, I think my picking up Nightsong was a happenstance of connections and stumbling. Nothing more, nothing less.
• 
  Kelly Lynn Thomas

  THIS IS THE CUTEST BOOK EVER IN THE ENTIRE WORLD! I may be biased, as I absolutely adore bats (and they are so good for eating pesky mosquitoes and other insects that are annoying), but if the illustrations of little Chiro don't melt your heart, you don't have one!
  
  The real strength of this book lies in the full-page illustrations. The story deals with Chiro learning how to use echo location. The author explains the concept of echo location in a beautiful manner that children will understand. The illustrator shows how Chiro "sees" by making the majority of the page black and trees indistinct shadows, with a full-color section where Chiro "sings" out to the world.
  
  Another thing I love about this book is the way it portrays bats as a family-based species (which is totally true to science, by the way) that provides a beneficial service: eating insects. Bats save millions and millions of dollars in agricultural damage each year, but they still have a bad rap.
  
  So do yourself and the world a favor, read this book and let it blow your mind with how awesome bats are. (Stella Luna is another great picture book about an adorable bat.)
• 
  Eyehavenofilter

  Well with so many books having the same title....
  Anyway this one really stands out.
  I love bats sooooo......
  Little Chiro, is sent out into the night for the first time. He is terrified because it is so dark and he tells his mom that he can't see. But she tells him to sing, it's a sense that bats have and that everything will sing back to him in its own way. Chiro soars out, and at first everything is so dark, but he remembers to sing. Through the amazing illustrations the colors of the night sing back and everything becomes clear to him.
  This is an inspiring book in the way that it was artistically mastered. It really needs to be seen to be appreciated. It gave me a sense of how some creatures see in the dark in their own way, through the eyes of the author and the artist.
  The expressions on Chiro's face in each of the illustrations is priceless. The wonder that is captured is just adorable. This would have been one of my favorite books as a child, now it's one of my favorites as an adult. Quick get me a damned tissue!
• 
  Marika

  Chiro, a little bat, faces his first night alone. He is scared because he cannot see in the dark, but his mother tells him, "Sense is the song you sing out into the world, and the song the world sings back to you." With this advice Chiro sets out into the frightening night, softly singing at the world around him. As his song brings awareness, it also banishes fear and soon Chiro's song becomes louder and his world expands in vivid detail. Long's scratchy black backgrounds capture the frightening shadows of trees and unknown things. Though it fits with the visual language he uses for Chiro and his mother, the contrast between adorable bat and dark night sets an immediate tone while the strong, layered colors reveal the vibrancy of Chiro's sound-sight. A story about vanquishing darkness and fear of the unknown, Nightsong will illuminate the imaginations of children and new graduates alike.
• 
  Rachel

  I loved this book, and especially the illustrations! Chiro is a young bat who has never explored the world alone before, until tonight, when his mother says he must. He has to use his good sense and sing, in order to find his way in the dark and eat his dinner. This is a good way to teach echolocation to young children, as the illustrator Loren Long shows wonderfully in acrylics and graphite. My favorite illustration was the one after Chiro eats, when he wanders out of the safety of the pond and into the wide world, with a closeup on the face of the bat (it had great detail and the bat looked so curious, like a young child). Highly recommended for ages 3-7, 5 stars.
• 
  Magila

  The pictures deserve a 5. The story, eh.
  
  I love the idea that a story was written about a bat. The bat is cute, and I think again - the book might be slightly more appealing to little girls.
  
  Overall, however, my wife and I both agreed we did not love this book. There were some nice themes of adventure, and perseverance, and being strong, and conquering fears. Heck, this might even be the book to buy your "boomerang" college student. It just so happens to not be that awesome at any one thing, and to drag a bit (if that's possible for a children's book).
  
  Beautiful art. Highly disappointing story. Overrated.
  
  Rent it, but I'd pass on buying it and don't know what the fuss is all about.
• 
  marmix

  The illustrations here are indeed beautiful, and highly evocative of little Chiro's feelings, but WHY no mention of what this "good sense" actually is? As the mother of a preschooler that likes to know the whys behind the story, this fell flat. I had to fumble an explanation about call and response and echolocation and hope I got it right. The author explained the inspiration of the main character's name, but I would have liked to see more.
• 
  Emi Yoshida

  This for me epitomizes the kind of children's book that Scholastic should be publishing. The story is engaging and beautifully illustrated, about little Chiro who is afraid but then literally soars, when his bat-mother turns him out of their nest. A gorgeous education about chiroptera, including echolocation and other bat facts. My 2nd graders love it.
• 
  Leigha

  This book is truly breathtaking. It is short and simple, but so beautiful. I love how it is drawn so that we get to see the way the small bat does, or at least get some idea of how the bat sees. I loved seeing the baby bat discovering "his song" and exploring the world outside his familiar boarders.
• 
  Michelle Nero

  I'm still in love with Stellaluna, but Chiro is just as adorable. I love the advice Momma gives Chiro on his first adventure out into the darkness. Love the book format and layout of the beautiful illustrations. Sing on Chiro!
• 
  Carrie Charley Brown

  The illustrations in this book are stunning! However, I found the text to be a bit exhausting, and my mind wandered. The attention span of a child is much shorter than mine, and therefore, I can imagine this book not targeting the age group it was intended to reach.
• 
  Jessica

  I just added this to my children's book collection, beings I am a preschool teacher. It is a great way to teach children about echolocation especially for the age groups 4 to 5 years of age. And the illustrations are beautiful.
  
• 
  Bronwyn

  What a sweet, beautiful book. The illustrations are wonderful and the little adventure story is wonderful.
• 
  Maria

  Lovely illustrations!
• 
  Jade

  We love this book! The text is beautifully written and the illustrations are stunning. My 5 and 4 year olds love the story and ask to read it at least 2 or 3 times a week. I personally love how poetic the writing is and that it appeals to both children and parents... I don’t get bored of reading this one aloud!
  
  I also love that the story deals with themes such as fear, adventure, discovery as well as echolocation in a way that children will find interesting as well as inspiring. Also, bats are just simply awesome.
• 
  Lynn

  Touching story about a young bat whose mother tries to show him how to use echolalia to find his way around in the dark. A nice bedtime storybook.
• 
  Tiffany Lynn Kramer

  A beautifully illustrated, darling tale that's delivered in the perfect way so that all ages might enjoy it.
• 
  Tiffany Fox

  This book was very beautifully illustrated. Whether it was the use of color or the artwork itself, Loren Long really did an amazing job of bringing Ari Berk's words come to life. The majority of the book is very dark, after all you are dealing with a bat. Their very nature is to me most active in a dark atmosphere, which is why they live in caves and other dark dwellings. Chiro, has never been away from his mother, and if afraid of what lives and lies beyond the safety of their home. When his mother finally sends him on his way, you can see the emotion in his face just how scared he truly is. Being so dark, I would have imagined not being able to make out much in way of details of Chiro's adventure, but Loren Long does an amazing job of using different shades of black to make even the most dark of atmosphere hold terrors and light for one to see. In one such imagine, Chiro believes that hands are grabbing at him from the forest. We know that it's the branches he is passing through, but you can see the formation of hands in them in the dark.
  
  Once Chiro finally remembers his mother's words of using his good sense or song when he is at him most scared moment, we all begin to see the world through new eyes and shades. I love how the artist has used his singing into a "headlight" effect, so that we go from pitch black and only seeing a few shades of color to a whole spectrum of being able to see in the dark. Much like when we drive at night and turn on our headlights to be able to see. Chiro not only begins to grow confidence in himself, but loses his fear almost immediately and pushing himself further than he has gone before.
  
  This is a true story of overcoming one's fears and learning to do so on your own, because as much as we would love to stay with our parents and they with us, we must eventually learn to have adventures of our own to tell.
  
  If you have enjoyed Ari Berk's and Loren Long's works before, then Nightsong is a must to add to your collection, but if you are not familiar with them and love bats or coming of age stories then this title is the one for you to make new in your library today!
  
  originally posted:
  http://tiffanyfoxbooks.blogspot.com/2...
• 
  Lauren Kramer-Theuerkauf

  SPOILER ALERT: The full plot of "Nightsong" will be revealed.
  
  "Nightsong" is a fantastic story about a young bat who learns how to see the world around him.
  
  Chiro (cheer-o)is called by his mother and told that the time has come for him to go out into the world. He is very afraid, but, his mother tells him to use "good sense." Confused, Chiro asks what this means.
  
  "Sense is the song you sing out into the world, and the song the world sings back to you. Sing, and the world will answer. That is how you'll see," she informs him.
  
  With this, his mother lets him go and Chiro flies out into the night. Shadows loom everywhere and Chiro is having a hard time seeing the path the he is supposed to take. That is when Chiro begins to sing.
  
  As Chiro sings, the world around him becomes visible. He is able to see things that he has never seen before, such as a flock of flying geese. Chiro manages to find the pond that his mother has instructed him to eat at.
  
  But, Chiro desires to see more. He flies higher than ever and discovers truly amazing sights. As the sun begins to rise, Chiro realizes that he needs to head back home. He returns to his mother tired, but, happy for the new knowledge that he has gained. Now, Chiro has found his nightsong that will continue to help him see the world.
  
  This book is absolutely stunning! What a wonderful way to explain echolocation to children (and adults). I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Chiro's world become clearer as he sang and the "world sang back."
  
  The illustrations of Loren Long are absolutely breathtaking. And Chiro is so adorable! I hope that a plush version is in the works. This book will make a wonderful addition to any collection and will simply delight both young and old.
• 
  Tasha

  Chiro is a very young bat whose mother tells him that it is time for him to head out on a solo flight for the first time. Chiro is very worried about how he will see in the dark, but his mother encourages him to “Sing, and the world will answer.” So Chiro heads out on his own. At first, he tries to fly without singing, but it is too dark. Then when he sings, he suddenly sees in color. Chiro explores and sees all sorts of things through his song. When he gets to the pond and all of its insects, their songs sound like breakfast to him. His mother had warned him not to go too far unless his song was strong. But Chiro is confident and heads out across the pond to see even more of the world through his song.
  
  Berk’s writing is lyrical and lovely. He captures subtleties and beauty in his words, offering insight about what Chiro is seeing through his echolocation. When Chiro uses his song for the first time, Berk writes about it like this: “Tall trees called out to him, chanted the length of their long branches and the girths of their rough trunks.” As you can see, he asks children to reach higher with their language, inviting them to explore like Chiro does.
  
  Long’s illustrations are a study in dark patterns and then bursts of color. Chiro is an exceedingly cute little bat, flying against haunting branches of shadow. When he sings, children will see the world come to life too, strengthened even more by Berk’s language. This is a beautiful book, perfect for a summer pajama story time.
  
  A dark delight of a bat’s life, this book is lush in both language and imagery. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
• 
  Kaitlyn Phipps

  One day Chiro is told by his mother that he will fly on his own to the pond to eat. "Use your good sense" she tells him and sends him on his way. At first, Chiro is scared. It is dark and he's all alone but he remember his mothers words. He uses his good sense by singing out into the world so that the world can answer him back. Although it seems different when he starts, Chiro quickly catches on and uses his good sense to navigate the world around him and see things he had never seen before.
  
  For an activity I would first want to explain to students how the good sense in the book is also known as echolocation which bats use to find food as well as navigate their environment. I may even have students watch a short educational video on echolocation further explaining it. Then I would have students play the following game as seen on
  http://twigglemagazine.com/October-ac...
  
  Choose a child to be the “bat.” Blindfold the child. The rest of the children will play the role of “insects” (bat food). They should spread out randomly around the bat within the designated boundaries. Bat calls out “beep, beep.” The insects respond with “buzz, buzz” as they walk around the area. The bat continues to call out and the insects continue to respond while changing positions. The bat tries to tag an “insect” by listening for the sounds they make and moving in the direction of those sounds. A tagged “insect” must go sit in the “bat cave” (designated area) until the next round. The last person tagged becomes the new “bat.”
  
  Berk, A., & Long, L. (2012). Nightsong. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
  
• 
  Holly Hardwick

  Nightsong by Ari Berk and illustrated by Loren Long is a beautifully story both textually and especially visually. It follows the story of Chiro, a young bat going on his first solo flight at night. He is nervous about how he will see, but his mother tells him to use his good sense that is "the song you sing out into the world, and the song the world sings back to you." This would be a wonderful way to teach students science through literature. Most children do not know that bats uses echos to see during the nights, and this story would be a great way to present that information to them.
  What I loved most about this book and why I think it should be the Caldecott winner are the stunning illustrations by Loren. The book starts off with a background that is almost completely dark and the only things that are in color are Chiro and his mother. As he flies, the echos he sends out lights the way and readers can see slivers of color appear. The most beautiful illustration of the book, however, is the sun rising over the ocean and Chiro's view of that as it flies. I turned to that page and literally just stared in awe of how wonderful it was to look at. I felt as if I was looking at a real sunrise. Loren did such an exemplary job showing how bats see through his illustrations and using the contrast of black and color to keep the reader fully engaged that I think he should win the Caldecott for this book.