4.2 Stars

Molly and her dad sit on the porch swing, waiting for fireflies on a June evening. Molly enjoys watching the fireflies and goes to sleep. Her dad gets back on the porch for a last word with the little fireflies. 

This is a teeny, adorable book about a little girl enjoying her evening with her father and the light show put on by the fireflies. It’s a simple bedtime story for tiny tots (2+, I guess). While nothing much happens, a sense of peace and love ooze from the pages. You can feel the warmth of their relationship and the cozy home Molly’s father created for his dear child. 

The illustrations are lovely. The father-daughter duo has blond hair and striking green eyes. Molly’s wavy curls are so cute! The detailing needs a special mention. Whether it is the pair of stakes on the grass, the cat in various positions on each page (and there’s one where the cat tries to grab a firefly), and my favorite is the one where Molly grabs her father’s shirt as she jumps on the swing in excitement. It’s such a realistic presentation! (I so wanted to pull Molly's little apple cheeks). 

The text is easy to read, though some of it could have been better phrased. It should matter to kids, though. They’ll enjoy the illustrations and the bonding between a father and his daughter.  I also like that there’s no detail about the mother. It helps keep more options open. 

To summarize, Where Fireflies Sleep is a sweet and calm bedtime book for summer (or any season). It has a little info about the fireflies but nothing complex. The focus is on Molly and her dad. 

My thanks to the author for the electronic ARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.