Biscuits, Sandwiches, and Beauty

Night Lunch – written by Eric Fan, illustrated by Dena Seiferling
Tundra Books, 2022

A mysterious atmosphere, gauzy sepia pictures, and only slightly anthropomorphic animal characters grace Night Lunch, an unusual book about some after-hours dining in a local eatery.  Eric Fan’s (of the Fan Brothers) brief text accompanies Dena Seiferling’s images of owls, horses, badgers, and mice who emerge after dark and quietly take over the scene (mice are a specialty of Seiferling).

Each picture focuses on one or more creatures, settings, and implicit action to create a total atmosphere.  “Badger wants a sandwich,” and we can see how much from the look of satisfaction on his face as he bites into it, suspended over a plate of fries.  To the left, a canister of forks and knives, and to the right, bottles of condiments frame this segment of the story.  Buildings with lights in the windows form the background. In a two-page spread, a busy owl carefully packs “puddings for little possums,” whose parent carries them on her back and reaches out for their treat-to-go. Consuming food is only part of the story and images. Another picture shows the owl-chef intently slicing peppers for one of his creations.

There is a bit of drama involving the mouse, probably the most vulnerable of the animals. While he sweeps the street for crumbs, two cats, one whose fur imitates a tuxedo and the other wearing pearls, confidently approach the food truck for their order.  Later, the mouse trembles in fear, and the owl extends a mouse-sized portion to him.  When the table is set with tiered cakes, candlesticks, and an elegant teapot, chef and worker enjoy it together. The disparity between their sizes is no obstacle.

There is so much information deliberately omitted, that children will inevitably fill it in with their own imagination.  The time period and location, the relationship between characters, the fantastic nature of a world where animals inhabit a human-scaled city, all invite speculation.  However many times you share Night Lunch with a child, the possibilities will not be exhausted.