I liked this. It’s a nice story dealing with something I can’t ever recall seeing a story about. Lord of people work nights, and it’s a thing that can effect parents in families in lots of fields-from police officers to warehouse employees. ( )

At 4 a.m. the front door creaks open and a mother who works the night shift finds her children "looking down from the top of the stairway". An evocation of a life of hard work and morning reunions, and a subtle reminder to over-indulged children that not everyone has it easy.

I liked this book for many reasons. First, I felt that the characters were very believable. In many instances children are raised and cared for by someone other than their mother or father because of work hours. I feel that this book was a real representation of a low-class family that is making ends meet in any way that they can. The point of view from the children make us aware that this is hard for them. In certain points in the book it was clear that the children missed their mother, however, they did not want her to know because they are aware that she is doing the best she can. The way this story was developed and organized was also well done. There was a great comparison amongst what the children and the mother were doing at the same time, a way of showing the parallel worlds. Showing the children asleep and then showing their mother on her “lunch” break at 3 a.m. really shows how things are different for those who work odd hours away from their family. This book pushes readers to understand that there are struggling families that are making ends meet by all means necessary. The big idea conveyed by this story was cherishing the moments you have with those you love because some people get less time, no time, or it could really be worse. ( )

Mom works graveyard shift, Nana takes care of the two kids.  They're doing ok, esp. because the mother comes home well before time to leave for school, so they have a nice family time at dawn.  The book would be good in a classroom (age 7-9?), maybe in a unit on 'people in our neighborhood' or 'thinking about careers.'  But it's not particularly enjoyable....  My dad worked graveyard shift, too, and I don't remember feeling a need to have bibliotherapy.  So, I'm not sure who might actually enjoy it.... ( )

By Dawn's Early Light by Karen Ackerman is a fiction picture book for younger children. This story tells of a single mother trying to keep her family afloat finically in a difficult time. With little time to see each other, given their schedules are completely different, the family does everything they can to see each other. One such way is the children getting up very early/late to see their mother come on the night shift. In my opinion this a great story for everyone. It shows just how much you really love your family. In the classroom you may discuss how some may have the same situation. They can relate because it is real life. The illustrations throughout the story are gentle and warm same as the nature of the story. Giving it a nurturing feel, as do the mother and grandmother of the story. ( )