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Peter Yarrow follows the blockbuster success of Puff, the Magic Dragon with a picture book version of his beautiful song, “Day Is Done.”

As night falls, animal and human parents everywhere tenderly tuck their children into bed. In the darkness, each child—raccoon, doe, rabbit, field mouse, and a little boy—wonders: Will I be safe? Will you be there for me? And every mommy and daddy responds with the comforting words of Yarrow’s refrain: “I am here.” 

Caldecott Honor-winning artist Melissa Sweet has created gorgeous images that celebrate the loving bond between parent and child, as well as the connection between all creatures of the earth.

Caldecott Honor artist Sweet (A River of Words: The Life of William Carlos Williams) effectively uses animal parent and child pairs to lighten the hopeful yet somber message of Yarrow's (Puff, the Magic Dragon) folk song, which he first performed with the trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Watercolor and mixed-media art reveals members of each animal family tenderly gazing into each others' eyes in placid woodland settings shown in cool earth tones punctuated by shocks of brilliant color: scarlet berries, magenta lily pads, crimson toadstools. Together, the animals eventually approach a house in which a father lovingly tucks his son into bed. The boy's bright yellow room exudes comfort, and even when storm clouds threaten, there's no real menace in any of Sweet's depictions of nature; yet in concert with Yarrow's verse, the overall effect is somewhat haunting. A CD tucked into the back cover features Yarrow and his daughter Bethany singing "Day Is Done" (plus two traditional songs, "I Know Where I'm Going" and "Dona Dona Dona," with new words and music by the author). Ages 3–7. (Oct.)

PreS-Gr 2—Peter (Yarrow), Paul, and Mary's familiar song isn't a natural fit for a picture book like Puff, the Magic Dragon (Sterling, 2007). The lyrics, such as "You shall inherit what humankind has done" and "Can you see what we all disguise/through your loving eyes?" are too sophisticated for the intended audience and the refrain "when the day is done" is awkward to read aloud repeatedly. Charming watercolor and mixed-media illustrations depict animal parents comforting their children, and the last scene shows a father lovingly tucking his son into bed. While this is a beautiful package, with a lovely CD including "Day Is Done," "I Know Where I'm Going," and "Dona Dona Dona" recorded by Peter Yarrow and his daughter Bethany, the audience will be limited to adults nostalgic for the music and its message.—Rachel Kamin, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, Highland Park, IL