Great Big Night, A

The 2022 Shortlists for the CCBC Book Awards Honour Excellence in Canadian Books for Young People

A rollicking, rhyming picture book about music-making and community, now available in paperback! Starred Kirkus review

The music train was a happy sight
Clickity-clackity three on bikes
Rolling in for a great big night.

When three travelling frog musicians roll through the forest on their painted bicycles, the other animals know they're in for a great big party. Only one of them is not having fun: grumpy old grouse. Just as he's telling everyone to stop with their foolish racket, their ruckus, their riff-raff, a great big storm rolls through the woods and puts an end to all the fun. When they emerge in the sleepy, dewy dawn, the animals see that grouse's home is ruined, and quickly band together to help him. Together, the frog musicians and their friends show grouse that music is for more than just a party: a fiddle, a golden guitar, and a drum, when played just right, can do just as much good as the knock-knock-bang of fixing and making brand-new.

Kate Inglis's playful and inventive language and Josée Bisaillon's rich and textured illustrations bring to life this happy group of friends filling the great green forest with their music. A wonderful testament to community-building, music-making, and friendship.