A Mysterious Night at the Library by Kim P. Chesney
Let’s set the scene. It’s October 29th in 1954, Halloween is only a few days away, and there’s more than just costumes, candy and trick-or-treating that will make this year’s holiday memorable. Along with a full moon, reports say that the sky will be full of shooting stars! Eight-year-old twins Kat and Ollie await the night with bated breath, eager to see if anything ghostly or supernatural will accompany this auspicious night.
From the very beginning, A Mysterious Night at the Library hooks the reader with this intriguing setup. And with author Kim P. Chesney’s skillful writing and Anna Griffin’s charming illustrations, the book keeps its hold on the reader’s attention. Because it turns out that magic does indeed touch the historic town of New Canaan, Connecticut — but it’s not at all the spirits or aliens that Ollie predicted.
Libraries, Teaching and Bears (Oh My)
“We’ve got to ask Mom to take us to the library before it closes tonight. It’s in the highest point in town.”
When the twins reach the New Canaan library, they find something unexpected amongst the shelves of books: a forlorn bear cub, clutching a book in its little paws. “Are you Baby Bear,” Kat asks, “from Baby Bear Lost in the Forest?”
The answer is, astoundingly, yes! Somehow the celestial magic has brought Baby Bear out of his own book. But without the ability to read, he’s unsure of how to get back in. Kat and Ollie are here to help, however, so they smuggle Baby Bear out in their backpack — and check out his book, of course.
Back at home, they try a number of approaches to teaching Baby Bear the alphabet — everything from writing the letters on a blackboard to sounding out the syllables as they pick vegetables from the garden, explaining that carrots start with a C, not a K. And after some trial and error, Baby Bear begins to catch on! Emboldened by his new friends’ encouragement, he begins a love of learning that soon has him flipping through every book on the twins’ shelves.
Having Fun Isn’t Hard When You’ve Got a Library Card
When a children’s book opens with the foreword “Reading opens the universe,” you know you’re in the right place. Chesney masterfully crafts a narrative that emphasizes the power of literacy, a vital lesson for new and prospective readers to learn. And what’s more, she makes it look fun, as Ollie and Kat find new and exciting ways to teach Baby Bear — and, later, a growing collection of animals — all about the ABCs. Griffin’s beautiful retro-style illustrations add to the book’s appeal, harkening back to the decade the story is set in.
The result is a spellbinding tale that transports readers back in time, while still teaching an important lesson that resonates with us in the modern age. An excellent choice for a class read-aloud or a bedtime story, this heartwarming book encourages a love for libraries, reading and expanding our horizons — setting children on the path for a lifelong love of learning.
Kim P. Chesney was born in Wakefield, Rhode Island, the middle of seven children. She is a graduate of the University of South Florida. What sets Kim apart is that at a young age, she discovered that she had a passion for the performing arts. This would later blossom into a desire to become an artist and express herself through a variety of art forms, from the culinary arts to portraiture and her own brand of art, mixed media encaustic.
Kim has also dedicated herself to raising money and awareness for children’s non-profits both locally and internationally. Kim has organized charity events, served as chair and co-chair, donated artwork to multiple art gallery locations, and volunteered countless hours, all helping to raise over $300,000.
Now, her love of storytelling expands beyond the canvas with her debut children’s book, A Mysterious Night at the Library. Crafted to inspire young readers and families alike, the book celebrates the magic of literacy and the joy of discovery. Dive into Kim’s world of artful storytelling — across canvas and page.
Anna Griffin is an interdisciplinary designer from Atlanta, Georgia. Her primary objective with each design is to translate a compelling narrative, identity or concept into expressive visuals. Her analytical problem-solving skills manifests in her work through her ability to take an existing brand and create illustrative, hand-drawn designs for labels, graphics, murals, or signage to further enhance the brand’s presence while staying true to their identity and current market. Her ability to apply these skills to modern day brands and items makes her work perfect for commercial identity and branding design.
Her background in illustration shines through in her soulful designs, allowing her work to also lend itself to poster design, merchandise, or anything you can slap a doodle on. You can contact her and check out more of her work on annaleaillustration.com.
