About
When twilight comes, nature transitions: from night to day at dawn and from day to night at dusk. Inside our homes, we are getting ready to start or end our days, but outside, crepuscular creatures—animals that are most active at dawn or dusk—are right in the middle of their days!
This engaging nonfiction picture book shows familiar animals and beautiful flowers—raccoons, white-tailed deer, fireflies, morning glories, evening primroses, and more—in a whole new light, focusing on the behaviors, adaptations, and activities that define each as a crepuscular creature or plant. The lushly illustrated pages demonstrate the interconnected interactions between critters and their environments, a powerful reminder that each is essential to the ecosystem as a whole.
From the first page welcoming the dawn to the last page beckoning us outside during twilight, this mesmerizing book encourages young readers to compare and contrast the rhythms of the natural world with the rhythms of their own days, inviting curiosity and encouraging comfort with transitions. In-between times can be magical!
Art direction and design by Jay Marvel
Additional developmental editing by Melissa Manlove
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Acclaim
A Junior Library Guild Selection
★ “A treasure . . . An enchanting meditation on nature’s twilight loveliness.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
★ “Luminescent lyrics—each page flowing naturally and as beautifully as their respective illustrations . . . A perfect nonfiction bedtime story for nature-loving children and a luminous guide for those drawn to the science of these special, subdued hours of the day.” —Booklist (starred review)
★ “With appealingly contemplative prose, stunning art and informative back matter, When Twilight Comes expertly melds inspiration and education while fostering connection to the beings that share our world.” —BookPage (starred review)
★ “Perfect for bedtime stories and school lessons alike, words and art show there is no shortage of comfort and knowledge to be found in the spaces between day and night. An informative visual feast that celebrates the natural world on the other side of the door.” —School Library Journal (starred review)
“Atkins describes the habits and idiosyncrasies of Virginia’s crepuscular organisms in poetic text. Devices such as alliteration and consonance make the lines well suited to reading aloud . . . Close-up views of the plants and animals in the foreground pull the reader into an intimate encounter with nature, while the backgrounds communicate depth and scale and situate each scene within a broader space. The spreads featuring the dawn or evening skies, blending the warmth of red, orange, and yellow with cool shades such as blue and purple, are especially effective.” —Horn Book Magazine
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Availability
Chronicle / BookShop / Barnes & Noble / Books-A-Million / Amazon
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