Night Lunch

A New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Book of 2022
An Indigo Best Kids’ Book of 2022
A Quill & Quire 2022 Book of the Year
One of Chicago Public Library’s Best Picture Books of 2022
One of School Library Journal‘s CaldeNott Honor Books of 2022
One of Betsy Bird’s Best 2022 Picture Book picks

“Fan weaves a nighttime spell of a story about kindness and sharing; Seiferling delivers a dreamlike world in beautiful sepia tones and textures, an idyllic atmosphere of light and shadows.” —New York Times

“Spare, incantatory lines by Fan lay down a soothing rhythm for this nocturnal idyll . . . [a] memorable vision of a peaceable kingdom.” —STARRED REVIEW, Publishers Weekly

“Night Lunch does indeed capture the spooky-gauzy enchantment of the wee hours, but readers may leave the book less inclined to shut their eyes than to head to the kitchen. . . . Readers’ own senses will be stirred by Seiferling’s bewitching digital art.” —STARRED REVIEW, Shelf Awareness

“It’s difficult to create stories that plug directly into the looping logic of the minds of very young children that are also smart and engaging enough for adults in charge of bedtime reading. It’s equally difficult to create the kind of picture book that feels timeless, quiet, and subtle without losing the interest of children. . . . [Q]uietly engaging and carefully executed.” —STARRED REVIEW, Quill & Quire

“Seiferling’s use of scale and light beautifully captures [a] tender encounter. . . . The stunning illustrations bring a richness to the midnight tale that creates a mesmerizing visual world.” —Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Jury/IBBY Canada

“Adults and children alike . . . will enjoy the subtle nuances of the book and the soft warmth of the characters. [A] good choice for a pajama storytime or bedtime tale . . . a tasty little treat.” —Kirkus Reviews

“[A] sweet and satisfying fantastical glimpse into what animals might be doing while humans sleep. . . . This creative and fun story should encourage children to imagine their own nighttime feasts.” —Booklist

“A hint of mischief animates this peaceful, harmonious alternative [to] noisier peeks at what animals really do at night . . . A pleaser for story time or bedtime, with distinctive art that adds quiet touches of humor and mystery.” —School Library Journal

“A mysterious atmosphere, gauzy sepia pictures, and only slightly anthropomorphic animal characters grace Night Lunch, an unusual book about some after-hours dining in a local eatery.” —Imaginary Elevators

“[D]elightful to read aloud. . . . From the street signs with their era-appropriate fonts to the wooden-wheeled lunch cart adorned with fairy lights, the nighttime scenes are cozy. . . . Night Lunch is a nice bedtime book for younger children.” —CM Reviews

“[A]n expertly done book about compassion and care. Eric Fan’s spare text has a poetic, snappy quality that crackles and begs to be read aloud. . . . Together Seiferling and Fan create an unforgettable nocturnal experience, one that ultimately comforts and happily stays in the memory.” —Mr. Brian’s Picture Book Picks