Buenas noches, Simón

PreS-Gr 2–As the sun sets, Simón the chameleon notices his friend Melvin the bat is upset. Melvin reveals he doesn’t like nighttime at all—he is afraid. Simón tells Melvin all about the wonders of the night: fireflies, lighthouses, dreams that come. But Melvin just isn’t convinced. When Bruna the owl overhears their conversation, she shares the many things that she enjoys about nighttime: gathering fruits, working, and taking care of the young children. The reminder that Melvin is not alone at night and has other nocturnal friends comforts him, just as Simón drifts off to sleep. The bright colorful illustrations on white backgrounds pop from when the sun sets to when the night comes, and the sky turns a lovely purple. Each spread is full of imagination and activity as nocturnal animals come out with the moon and stars, making this a title young readers will want to revisit. The surroundings are magical, while the worries Melvin has and the emotions his friends express as they comfort him are also clear through the illustrations. The Spanish text is clear and would be perfect for a read aloud, while the topic of being afraid of the dark is one many readers will relate to.