Smoky Night

Smoky Night

Author: Eve Bunting 

Illustrator: David Diaz

Genre: Realistic Fiction 

Awards: Caldecott Medal 

Grade Level: 1st-4th 

Smoky Night is a book about the Los Angeles Riots of 1992. Daniel and his mother are watching the riots from their window. Daniel's mother has to reassure him that they are safe from people intruding into their home. Daniel and his mother eventually go to sleep. They are forced to wake up and flee their apartment when there is a fire. While Daniel and his mother are making their way to the shelter, he realizes that both his and Mrs. Kim's cats are missing. A firefighter then comes into the shelter and is carrying both of the missing cats. Through the night, Daniel and his mother finally get to really know their neighbor Mrs. Kim. They all realize that most of the time people do not like each other because they do not truly know each other. 

This book can be used to teach students about people coming together to overcome an obstacle. Smoky Night can also be used as a tool to teach students about acceptance and the concept of right and wrong.