Hello, friends! Our book today is the quietly enchanting Singing Away The Dark, written by Caroline Woodward and illustrated by Julie Morstad, the story of a little girl’s trick for finding courage in the darkness.

What if you really did have to walk a mile through the snow on your way to school? This little girl does, and once her mother has packed her lunch and bundled her up, she sets out into the dark countryside on her way to the bus stop. The winter woods are cold, and can sometimes be scary, especially before the sun comes up. But our heroine has a trick to help her find her courage: she sings. Her songs keep the shadows at bay, and bring light to the darkened woods as the sun comes up to hear her tune. It’s a small thing, but it brings her courage for the cold morning, and gives her power over the fading night.

Absolutely lovely. Inspired by the author’s childhood (remember a time that children were allowed to walk through the dark to their bus stop alone?), playing off the old “two miles in the snow, uphill both ways” gag, yet also deeply symbolic, there are so many meaningful layers to this simple yet striking story. The text is a joy to read, with a subtle, soothing rhyme scheme that brings the reader into the imagination of a child. The art is stunning, creating a frozen atmosphere so rich that you could swear you feel the chilly wind and hear the crunch of snow. The length is perfect, and JJ and I both loved it. A beautiful winter tale of courage and inner strength, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)