When you hear the clickety-clack and the old crow caw you know it’s time for a woodland party. A Great Big Night by Kate Inglis and Josée Bisaillon is a whimsical, musical romp in the forest.

Three musicians roll into the forest with a bike train full of musical instruments ready for a great big night. Everyone is having a grand old time until Grouse, grouses about the hullabaloo and breaks up the party. When a huge storm blows in and Grouse’s home is destroyed the three musicians set to work, calling all of the animals together to help old Grouse.

Kate Inglis weaves a tale of joy and community in her poetic words. She reminds readers of the importance of the arts in bringing people together when, after the storm, the musicians get out their instruments to rally the other creatures in the forest to help Grouse rebuild. Her poetry is unique. Sometimes the story rhymes and sometimes not. Peppered with onomatopoeic pops for emerging readers to join in the telling of the story. It’s musical in parts and whimsical in others and at times a bit odd but that is the charm. It may not be a story you will be drawn to upon the first read but give it a chance, the more times you read through the more charming and entertaining it becomes.

I certainly appreciate the message of community in the story. When we are living in a time that has been quite insular, it’s important to remember the value of a community and the things we can do to help those around us and if we can do it with a little background music, all the better.

Josée Bisaillon is one of our most favourite illustrators. When speaking of whimsy, her illustrations are the first to come to mind. This book is FULL of little hidden moments, creatures and side stories all waiting to be explored. The paper collage illustrations really lend themselves to discovery and will enchant readers each time they come back to the book.