Book Review:
Nightlights by Lorena Alvarez
Spoilers?
Maybe.
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*As of June 27, 2017 this book review updated after fifth time reading this book*
Title - NightlightsBy - Lorena Alvarez
Publication - March 14th 2017 by Nobrow Press
Format - Hardcover, 56 pages
Genre - Children's Books, Picture Book, Fantasy, Graphic Novel
Every night, tiny stars appear out of the darkness in little Sandy's bedroom. She catches them and creates wonderful creatures to play with until she falls asleep, and in the morning brings them back to life in the whimsical drawings that cover her room.
One day, Morfie, a mysterious pale girl, appears at school. And she knows all about Sandy's drawings.
Nightlights is a beautiful story about fear, insecurity, and creativity, from the enchanting imagination of Lorena Alvarez.
The Rating :
My Review:
My review in a gif. Which equals 5 stars.
via GIPHY
via GIPHY
I want to say that this was sent to me for review from publisher and that, as all my reviews, this one is full of my honest opinions.
The Cover:
The cover is just so beautiful and that spine, that orange spine, is just perfection.There are unique looking flowers and flora in bright colors. And the main character right in the middle of the front drawing away unaware of the eyes looking at her from the darkness.
Although they say never judge a book by it's cover I believe the cover should represent what the book is going to be like or at least some aspect of it.
The cover is just so beautiful and that spine, that orange spine, is just perfection.There are unique looking flowers and flora in bright colors. And the main character right in the middle of the front drawing away unaware of the eyes looking at her from the darkness.
Its a nice soft matte cover with glossy parts here and there. Like some of the flowers, the papers strewn around, the font for the name of the book and author, as well as the little girl.
And there's a bike hidden in the back of the book suggesting that that's how she got there.
And there's a bike hidden in the back of the book suggesting that that's how she got there.
The Story:
Sandy has the talent to create whimsical drawings.
Just before she drifts off to sleep she gets surrounded by orbs of light that help her brings her creatures to life. And in the morning she goes off and draws some more. But something strange happened to her after she meets a strange yet fascinating girl named Morfie.
Just before she drifts off to sleep she gets surrounded by orbs of light that help her brings her creatures to life. And in the morning she goes off and draws some more. But something strange happened to her after she meets a strange yet fascinating girl named Morfie.
Settings:
Since this is a picture book the setting are more alive. And my favorite places have to be the world created by Sandy with their beautiful wildlife and plants. It's just simply amazing. And it makes you want these places to be real.
Then there are the places in the real world. The town with the bustling streets and crowded stores, the Catholic school Sandy goes to and even her home. I liked them all.
Then there are the places in the real world. The town with the bustling streets and crowded stores, the Catholic school Sandy goes to and even her home. I liked them all.
Illustrations:
There are two different palettes when it comes to Nightlights.
Whenever it's Sandy’s real life the palette is more real. Mixing everyday colors in a way that makes each page sing in the same tone. But for Sandy’s art (her own world filled with drawings) it's a bit more purple and blue. Incorporating pops of that beautiful orange from the spine, and bits of yellow, pink, and green.
One word I’d use to describe how Lorena’s illustrations make me feel would be: Alive.
But more like I’m alive in a curious, colorful world that reminds me a bit of the world of Ghibli. And a smidgen of the game, Night in the Woods.
Overall:
I quickly fell in love with this book. From the beautiful eerie cover to the bright orange end paper with cute flower creatures, to the bright colors and beautiful illustrations. And not to mention Sandy's story throughout.Lorena is brilliant and glimmering with talent as she brings the life of Sandy to life in this book.
Oh! And that orange title font and spine is to die for. I 💖it!
😍
Would I re-read this book? Definitely. And I already have read this book more than 4 times.
I’m in love with this book, but that's no surprise since I love all the books that have that are published by Nobrow. They are all so colorful and brilliant. I don’t know if it’s my artistic side singing whenever I read these books, or just how the stories are so simple and bright and beautiful, that makes me love them so much. Like if I had children or little ones around me, I’d sit them in a circle and read these books to them.
