Elisha Cooper’s eloquently spare story describes the things that are noticed on a walk along the block by an unseen child and adult. A comment is made about something happening at each house they pass. Chasing squirrels are followed over the course of several houses as they skitter along the wires. A black-and-white cat rests in the shade of an apple tree. The smell of apple pie wafts from a window. The story visually unfolds in soft watercolor and pencil illustrations spanning each double-page spread. Each scene shows the house currently in view along with a glimpse of what has just been passed and what is coming next. At the end of the block, the walkers turn around and head for home, passing the same houses again, noticing the things that have changed. The cat is going inside. The squirrels are quiet. The pie is gone. The sky has gradually darkened. It’s time to go inside for bed. Children will also love noticing other details that are shown but never commented upon in this quiet, appealing book. (Ages 3–6)

Acclaimed author-illustrator Elisha Cooper paints the quiet magic of a good-night walk as the neighborhood settles into itself at the end of the day.

As a child and parent walk down the block to the bay and turn to walk back home, evening falls upon the neighborhood. As the walk begins, the squirrels are in the yards, the boys are mowing lawns, a neighbor is baking a pie, and someone is mailing a letter. When the child and parent turn to walk back home, the apple pie is down from the windowsill, the leaves are raked up, and the postman has picked up