Night School

Jennifer Falkner is an Ottawa-based freelance writer and bookseller.

Eddie is a night owl who wants to stay up late rather than go to bed
early to get up in time for school, so he enrols in a school that
operates at night. The curriculum is based entirely on nighttime
subjects, such as nocturnal animals. Math consists of adding and
subtracting stars. Recess does not take place out in the schoolyard but
in front of the television watching the late show. Daytime food, such as
sandwiches, is frowned upon; instead, snacks are provided from a nearby
nightclub. Soon Eddie notices that all the students are in a trance,
half-asleep and at the mercy of the teachers, who appear to be
malevolent nighttime creatures like werewolves and witches. Seeing the
danger they are all in, Eddie manages to wake them up just in time. His
experience leads him to return home to his parents and his bed, content
to go back to the day school where he is safe.

Lesynski’s comical illustrations add interesting detail and humor to
her story; for example, in the school scenes, one can find jokes in the
notices in the classroom, titles of books, and students’ homework as
well as in other places. Her story, written in almost singsong-rhyme
style, is clever, fun, and ideal for bedtime reading. Highly
recommended.