A Beautiful Children’s Book of Nature, Art, and Poetry
Please listen to a sample of the MP3 above, and view some of the illustrations from the book. Then, scroll down to see more paintings and to discover the story behind the project. Thank you so much for stopping by!
Imagine being outside on a starry summer night with fireflies twinkling all around you. Can you hear the birds, crickets, and frogs singing their sweet lullabies? Sounds of nature soothe us to sleep in this visually enchanting bedtime book from a land of dreams and imagination.
Inspiration
“Firefly Lullaby” was inspired in 2002 by a beautiful, sparkly night in the Texas Hill Country. As an urban dweller, Weiss was captivated by the night creatures’ serenade. The beautiful sounds of frogs, crickets, and others combined with the dark, starry sky and the twinkling of fireflies made it a night to remember. Weiss memorialized the experience in a painting, “Firefly Lullaby,” which evolved into her book. Karen combined some of her older paintings to write the story and then made new drawings and paintings to complete the book.
“As a city dweller, I do not often hear this richly textured song of nature’s creatures. Knowing that many urban kids are also rarely exposed to these sounds, I hope that children can experience a little bit of the wonder and beauty of nature through this book and recording.” Karen Weiss, artist/author.
Reviews and comments
“The bold, bright colors depicted in the beginning pages’ sunset are soon replaced by pages dominated with blues and purples, but they never feel dreary; while the deeper hues offer a sleepy feel, it’s too dreamlike to ever be dull. The poetry flows beautifully, as well, its scansion as steady and calming as the lullaby it mimics. The soothing tempo seems perfectly designed for lap readers listening as an adult rocks them to the beat of the poem’s music. Some of the more challenging vocabulary words (nocturnal, symphony) are defined for independent readers in a short glossary.
An enchanting debut that captures the magic of nighttime backyard music.” Kirkus starred review https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/karen-weiss/firefly-lullaby/
“For moms or grandmas with small children, help them conjure up an experience that their progeny will remember forever with Firefly Lullaby by local artist and author Karen Weiss. Weiss has created one of the most beautiful books for young folks that we have ever seen. Karen Weiss transports us to a magical world that exists in the mind of every youngster — the moments between day and night when the fireflies play. Readers are immersed in the sights and sounds of the evening — the flutter of a Luna moth’s wings, the croak of a frog, a songbird’s sweet melody and the cricket’s chirp. Each page is filled with delightful illustrations, inspired by the Texas Hill Country, created by the author herself that lead to a heartwarming and sleepy ending, making it an ideal bedtime tale for children of all ages.
With its soothing rhythm and gentle imagery, Firefly Lullaby is sure to become a beloved classic to which families will turn again and again.” Green Source DFW https://greensourcedfw.org/
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/karen-weiss/firefly-lullaby.
Readers are saying
“This book is so lovely; it leaves me breathless.”
“I will buy one for my grandchild, and I want one for myself!”
“It is a piece of art to put out on the coffee table.”
“A very calming book that feels like a warm hug.”
“Gorgeous and fun to read.”
“This is my new favorite baby gift.”
“Not just for little ones! My ten-year-old grandson adores the unique art in this book.”
Firefly Lullaby is available through our website, TricycleBooks.com, and in specialty gift boutiques, museum stores, and more. Please consider supporting the arts and small business rather than Amazon.