Forest Bright, Forest Night

We originally checked this book out from our library and loved it so much. Our son is 15 months and he gets very excited to 'read' it. He wants to know what each animal is. As he grows, the concept of nocturnal animals will be learned. The learn to count aspect is subtle and, thankfully, does not take over the whole story but is available when your child is ready for it. This book is beautiful, educational, and essential.

Reviewed by Cayden (age 3-1/2), Max (age 19-months) Aures and Mom for Reader Views (4/08) "Forest Bright, Forest Night" is part of the "Simply Nature" series and is a great introduction to forest animals. The first half of the book explores different animals that you see in the forest during the daytime such as deer, woodpeckers, and squirrels. The second half of the book introduces us to a variety of nocturnal animals such as owls, skunks, and opossums. In the corner of each page there is a number corresponding to the number of that animal on the page. There are also "hidden" numbers on each page etched in various trees and rocks or formed by plants or animals. Cayden: "I want to count the animals!" Cayden: "Look, a deer! And there is a bear, no two of them!" Max: "Two! Rrraaarrr!!" Cayden: "I like finding the hidden numbers! It is fun! That is my favorite part. I like counting though too." Cayden: "I like this book a lot mom." Parent's comments: "Forest Bright, Forest Night" was definitely a hit with my children! Besides reading the text there are so many other fun things that you can do with this book from counting and naming the animals to finding the hidden numbers and hidden animals. It is also a great introduction to teaching children about how some animals sleep during the night whereas other animals are out and about during that time. The illustrations are great and definitely held both of my children's interest. Any child who enjoys counting and animals will love this book!

This book is excellent. I am a grandma who lives in the woods. I was tired of reading books to my grandchildren about farm animals. So I purchased every board book on forest animals that I could find on-line. Forest Bright, Forest Night is the best book of all my purchases.

What a wonderful book. So much to explore in the beautiful illustrations. You read. You count. You learn. You spy out hidden animals and numbers. More than a storybook it is an engaging adventure. Gave it as a gift to a preschooler. Intend to give it to several more. A must for every class library. Effectively integrates reading, math and science.

This is a highly unique story that adults and children will both enjoy. Forest day depicts animals and their young in their habitats (while other animals that live and flourish in the forest night are sleeping in the same picture underneath) during the daylight hours for the first 11 pages of the book. The next pages compares forest day animals with others and gives factual information about them. The fun part about this book is that you have to turn the book upside down and around to read about forest night. The forest night animals are now awake and living in the moons light and the day time animals are sleeping underneath them. Utterly amazing illustrations with details of foot prints, younglings, nature and colors lead to a terrific story accompanied with rhyme, rhythm and fun words.