Red Sky at Night

A memorable collection of weather sayings, beautifully arranged in story form and illustrated by renowned paper artist Elly MacKay.

Red sky at night, sailor's delight. And, the next morning, when the dew is on the grass, no rain will come to pass. These are the perfect conditions for a grandfather to take his grandchildren out on a fishing trip. Especially since, as the saying goes, when the wind is from the West, then the fishes bite the best. The family takes a boat out on the lake, fishing and swimming and eventually camping out on a nearby island, taking full advantage of the gorgeous weather. But the next day . . . red sky in the morning, sailors take warning! The family ventures back home just in time to avoid a rainstorm. But not to worry -- the more rain, the more rest. Fair weather's not always best.

Acclaimed paper artist Elly MacKay illustrates a lovely family narrative through the use of weather aphorisms, creating a beautiful and informational story which will appeal to children's timeless fascination with the natural world.
ELLY MACKAY is a paper artist and a children's book author and illustrator. She wrote and illustrated the picture books If You Hold a Seed, Shadow Chasers and Butterfly Park, among others. She studied illustration and printmaking at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. Her distinctive pieces are made using paper and ink, and then are set into a miniature theatre and photographed, giving them their unique three-dimensional quality. Elly lives in Owen Sound, Ontario, with her husband and two children. View titles by Elly MacKay
  • SELECTION | 2018
    Junior Library Guild Selection
  • SHORTLIST | 2018
    Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award
One of New York Public Library’s Best Books for Kids 2018
One of Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Book Covers of 2018
Considered for one of Horn Book’s CaldeNott Honour Books 2019


PRAISE FOR Red Sky at Night:

"With MacKay’s dreamy cut-paper collage art featuring two siblings exploring outdoors, the old-fashioned approach to weather is oddly reassuring." --New York Times

"[T]his makes a perfect fit for primary weather units." --Starred Review, Booklist

"A curated collection of old-timey weather sayings is artfully brought to life in this exquisite informational picture book." --Starred Review, Quill & Quire

"Distinctive, luminous illustrations delight the eye." --Kirkus Reviews

"MacKay . . . once again relies on inventive, diorama-style artwork to create a moving story." --Publishers Weekly

"A wonderful resource for nature lovers and for any classroom, especially for art and science curricula." --School Library Journal

"[T]his transfixing picture book will teach something new to cloud-watchers everywhere." --BookPage

"[A] clever picture book. . . . Budding and amateur meteorologists will enjoy this title, as will Canadian adults and children alike. . . . Highly Recommended." --CM Magazine

"A memorable collection of weather sayings, beautifully arranged in story form and illustrated by renowned paper artist Elly MacKay.” --The Avidly

Tundra Illustrator Studio: Elly MacKay

Tundra Illustrator Studio: Elly MacKay

About

A memorable collection of weather sayings, beautifully arranged in story form and illustrated by renowned paper artist Elly MacKay.

Red sky at night, sailor's delight. And, the next morning, when the dew is on the grass, no rain will come to pass. These are the perfect conditions for a grandfather to take his grandchildren out on a fishing trip. Especially since, as the saying goes, when the wind is from the West, then the fishes bite the best. The family takes a boat out on the lake, fishing and swimming and eventually camping out on a nearby island, taking full advantage of the gorgeous weather. But the next day . . . red sky in the morning, sailors take warning! The family ventures back home just in time to avoid a rainstorm. But not to worry -- the more rain, the more rest. Fair weather's not always best.

Acclaimed paper artist Elly MacKay illustrates a lovely family narrative through the use of weather aphorisms, creating a beautiful and informational story which will appeal to children's timeless fascination with the natural world.

Author

ELLY MACKAY is a paper artist and a children's book author and illustrator. She wrote and illustrated the picture books If You Hold a Seed, Shadow Chasers and Butterfly Park, among others. She studied illustration and printmaking at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. Her distinctive pieces are made using paper and ink, and then are set into a miniature theatre and photographed, giving them their unique three-dimensional quality. Elly lives in Owen Sound, Ontario, with her husband and two children. View titles by Elly MacKay

Awards

  • SELECTION | 2018
    Junior Library Guild Selection
  • SHORTLIST | 2018
    Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award

Praise

One of New York Public Library’s Best Books for Kids 2018
One of Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Book Covers of 2018
Considered for one of Horn Book’s CaldeNott Honour Books 2019


PRAISE FOR Red Sky at Night:

"With MacKay’s dreamy cut-paper collage art featuring two siblings exploring outdoors, the old-fashioned approach to weather is oddly reassuring." --New York Times

"[T]his makes a perfect fit for primary weather units." --Starred Review, Booklist

"A curated collection of old-timey weather sayings is artfully brought to life in this exquisite informational picture book." --Starred Review, Quill & Quire

"Distinctive, luminous illustrations delight the eye." --Kirkus Reviews

"MacKay . . . once again relies on inventive, diorama-style artwork to create a moving story." --Publishers Weekly

"A wonderful resource for nature lovers and for any classroom, especially for art and science curricula." --School Library Journal

"[T]his transfixing picture book will teach something new to cloud-watchers everywhere." --BookPage

"[A] clever picture book. . . . Budding and amateur meteorologists will enjoy this title, as will Canadian adults and children alike. . . . Highly Recommended." --CM Magazine

"A memorable collection of weather sayings, beautifully arranged in story form and illustrated by renowned paper artist Elly MacKay.” --The Avidly

Media

Tundra Illustrator Studio: Elly MacKay

Tundra Illustrator Studio: Elly MacKay

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