Night Creatures: Firefly: An uplifting and lyrical story of light, hope, and wonder

by Robert Macfarlane, Luke Adam Hawker (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Known as beacons of light, fireflies deliver a sense of wonder and hope even when the world is navigating the shadows of the night. MacFarlane and Hawker's artsy and whimsical read-aloud is a deeply needed breath of fresh air.

From two of the U.K.'s best-known book makers, Robert Macfarlane and Luke Adam Hawker, comes a stunning picture book to ignite wonder in readers everywhere.

In the darkness of December, 
Through the winter's deepest snowing,

When the world is ste ep in camber,
And all hope is downwards-flowing

Then's the time to seek what's glowing...

Written in lyrical verse, this story follows one sun-seeking child who discovers a meadow illuminated by fireflies: "fallen constellations" that dance like stars among the summer grasses, setting fears to flight. Enchanting to read aloud and exquisite to hold in the hand, each scene is rendered in spellbinding detail, showing the power of hope in a world steeped in darkness.

The first in a trilogy, Firefly is sure to appeal to all ages:

• An uplifting and lyrical story of light, hope, and wonder
• With words from beloved and New York Times bestselling author Robert Macfarlane, creator of The Lost Words and The Lost Spells
• Stunning artwork created from original etchings by Luke Adam Hawker, whose debut book Together was a Sunday Times bestseller
• Spectacular gift book, cloth bound with a copper foiled cover
• This accessible story is perfect for children and adults, ages 7 and above

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781917366717
Publisher:	Magic Cat
Publication date:	10/21/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	21 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	5 - 18 Years

About the Author

Robert Macfarlane is a British writer and Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He is best known for his books on landscape, nature, place, people and language. He is seen as one of a number of recent British writers who have provoked a new critical and popular interest in writing about landscape. Luke Adam Hawker is an artist with a background in architecture and design. Hawker commenced his career as a designer before he became a full-time artist in 2015. He has a fascination with drawing on location as well as taking the time to notice the world around him. He primarily uses his art as a means to connect with places and people. In 2021, Hawker published his first book, Together, and it quickly became a Sunday Times bestseller. It has been well-received, and over 130,000 copies have been purchased worldwide in 11 different languages.

Editorial Reviews

"A glowing and magical poetic celebration of hope."— Kirkus

"Captivating . . . A kind of charm to will away spirit-darkening forces."— Publishers Weekly

“Dreamy, awe-inspiring and truly inventive”— The Bookseller

“Readers of all ages will be inspired to persevere through the winters of their lives, when light is scarce but worth fighting for.” 

— Foreword, starred review

From the Publisher

2025-07-19
Macfarlane, known for his adult works on science and nature, offers a meditation on finding light during life’s darkest moments.

Written in richly textured verse, the narrative begins in December’s bleakest hour, when “all hope is downwards-flowing,” and follows one child’s quest to gather light from various sources—“stream’s bright gleam,” “rowan’s berry,” and “snowdrift’s shine.” The language pulses with musicality and rich sound patterns, creating an incantatory quality that elevates the simple premise into something mythic. The child stumbles and falls (“PLUNGE! And plummet!”) but ultimately discovers a meadow alive with fireflies—“fallen constellations” that transform darkness into dancing light. Hawker’s extraordinary black-and-white etchings render each scene with meticulous detail, featuring parallel lines and crosshatching with varied line weights that create dramatic effects even without color. The monochromatic palette paradoxically makes the concept of light more powerful, with generous white spaces and careful shading suggesting radiance breaking through shadow. The child, with skin the white of the page, moves through these landscapes, dwarfed by towering trees and vast skies that suggest both vulnerability and the magnitude of natural wonder. The sophisticated vocabulary and complex metaphors will challenge younger readers, but the message about resilience and the power of seeking beauty in darkness will both resonate across ages. Unlike typical picture books, this feels more like illustrated poetry, demanding slower, more contemplative reading that rewards multiple encounters.

For patient readers, a glowing and magical poetic celebration of hope.(Picture book. 7-12)

Kirkus Reviews