#743 of 1001 · August 13, 2022

Warm, hazy evenings can be a wonderful time for neighborhoods to come together and celebrate simple human joys. For a pleasing picture of just this sort of moment, see Eleanor Schick’s One Summer Night. Up past her bedtime, young Laura plays a record on the turntable in her room and dances without a care. One by one, the residents of the buildings across the street are inspired to celebrate—two sisters stop fighting and begin to sing, Mr. Stein plays the piano, Mrs. Cameron dances merrily, Arturo plays the drum, Chester and Mike finish their dinner and turn their kitchenware into percussion instruments, and Mrs. Bellini and Mrs. Cavallo begin to dance together. The whole thing turns into an impromptu block party, much to the delight of Laura and her family. Schick’s lively two-color illustrations bring energy and warmth to this gentle slice-of-life story. #summer #night #neighbors #neighborhood #music #dance #dancing #book #books #childrensbooks #beautifulbooks #picturebook #picturebooks #picturebookillustration #picturebookillustrations #picturebookart #childrensbookillustration #childrensliterature #illustration #kidlit #kidsbooks #bookworm #booklover #booklovers #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #instabook #instabooks