Night of the Three Kings

“A child struggles to sleep on the eve of Epiphany in this surreal story from Tafolla and Morales. . . . After a camel, an elephant, and a horse carrying the three kings, portrayed with various skin tones, pass by the child’s window, the nudge of a baby camel’s nose beckons the young narrator onto the animal’s back and to the group’s destination: ‘a small inn and a tiny stable.’ . . . Vibrant, thick-lined digital illustrations, rich with texture and geometric shapes, add depth and energy to this dreamy twist on Three Kings celebrations.”—Publishers Weekly

“On the eve of Three Kings’ Day, a curious child struggles to fall asleep when the three wise men appear for a nighttime adventure. . . . Under the cover of stars, the little dreamer mounts a baby camel and accompanies the kings across the vast desert, ultimately arriving at a manger where baby Jesus awaits. . . . Relying on a languid pace, Tafolla captures the spirit of Three Kings’ Day with a touch of hushed zeal and gentle humor. Appended is a brief, useful note on the holiday and its significance across Spanish-speaking cultures. Morales’ warm artwork, meanwhile, favors rich purples and blues to weave a nighttime canvas. . . . A lovely reverie.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Brilliant-hued, textured digital art illustrations blend the remarkable with the warmth of the child’s family life.” —The Horn Book

“Rich jewel and fluorescent tones saturate each page in a palette of yellow, green, violet, deep blue, and magenta, with added textures, light and shadow creating a three-dimensional quality to the illustrations. Simple text tells the story from the perspective of the child, and an author’s note at the end provides more information about the celebration of the Three Kings throughout Latin America and Spanish-speaking parts of the United States. This simple readaloud is a solid addition for holiday collections.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books