4 April 2017 ALL EARS, ALL EYES by Richard Jackson and Katherine Tillotson, ill., Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum, March 2017, 40p., ISBN: 978-1-4814-1571-2

“Darkness darkness, be my blanket

Cover me with the endless night”

-- Jesse Colin Young (1969)

“...as light falls

and night rises.

What surprises?

What sings?”

ALL EARS, ALL EYES is a splendorific treasure trove of sights and sounds in the “dim-dimming woods.” Combining watercolor and digital effects, Katherine Tillotson’s illustrations yield layers of subtle creature sightings that will thoroughly excite young children. Upon close and careful observation, they will will suddenly catch a glimpse of a camouflaged owl in the bluish-purple tree, and a deer browsing in the dusky last moments of sunset.  But wait! On the facing page a porcupine will suddenly catch your eye, and then, looking even more closely, you’ll see the bat sweeping by.

“Owl’s call

Bat’s whirr

Frog’s peep

Fox’s bark

blur…”

Page after page, as stars and moonlight appear, and the woods fill with sounds, we discover fireflies and mice, along with a fox and some flying squirrels. Again and again, the owl reappears.

With its spare, melodic text and menagerie of creature sounds, ALL EARS, ALL EYES is a magnificent, nature-filled, bedtime treat.

Richie Partington, MLIS

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