Mk Smith Despres
Mk Smith Despres writes and teaches in Western Massachusetts.
Their debut picture book will be published in 2024.
Night Song
“In this lyrically told be-yourself story, a frog named Bernardo longs to join the birds whose dawn song inspires the sun, which in turn “gently unfolded the flowers, dried the night-damp stones, and leaned across the backs of the leaves to dance across the forest floor.” The pleasure that other creatures take in this beauty (“The fishes in the pond swam in the song, the dragonflies hummed along”) spur Bernardo’s desire to sing like the birds. “I’d like to do that.... I’d like to make the whole woods happy,” he thinks. But attempts to become more avian—adorning himself in colorful leaves, ascending a tree—are met with stern looks. The frog’s perspective doesn’t shift until a small friend reminds Bernardo of the role he plays in another musical drama: the dusk song that puts the woods to sleep. Assured lines by debut creator Smith Despres convey the wonder of change brought by the day’s rhythms, while limpid colored pencil, watercolor, and ink spreads by Yum (Luli and the Language of Tea) deliver giggles and render subtly changing light and color in this hymn to contemplating one’s place in the world.”—Publishers Weekly
“As dawn breaks, a chorus of songbirds sing a cheery song, welcoming the day and making everyone in the woodland happy: “The fishes in the pond swam in the song, / the dragonflies hummed along, and / creatures furred, feathered, and shelled stretched and smiled in it.” Bernardo, a green frog, is despondent he can’t hit the same sunny high notes. He ruefully acknowledges that his voice sounds like “wood and nighttime and things inside of other things.” With comical gusto, the little amphibian tries his best to be like a bird, but instead of flitting and flying, his efforts flop. As evening approaches, a conversation with an admiring snail affords Bernardo a newfound appreciation of his musical talents and sonorous ability to sing the “song that lulls the woods to sleep.” Debut author Despres' lyrical text captures the tenor and distinct rhythm of morning and night. Yum’s atmospheric colored pencil, watercolor, and ink cartoon illustrations provide stunning views of the sunrise and sunset. This is a harmonious picture book about embracing your own voice.”—Booklist
“Despite great effort, Bernardo the frog just can’t find a place in the morning chorus. Bernardo knows his song sounds “like wood and nighttime and things inside of other things.” But he loves the way the birds sing to the sun to unfold the flowers and send leaves “to dance across the forest floor.” He finds it so lovely that he tries to join in by donning a silly bird disguise made of leaves and berries. Alas, he looks ridiculous to the creatures around the pond; nor do they appreciate his efforts to climb a tree and then dance awkwardly across flower tops. By the time he gives up, the sun has traveled across the sky, and he feels too discouraged to listen to the crickets, the blackbirds, and the other frogs in their evening chorus—until, that is, he hears a snail marvel at “the song that lulls the woods to sleep.” Using a mix of watercolor, colored pencil, and ink, Yum illustrates Despres’ lilting, sonorous text with idyllic scenes of songbirds and waterfowl, butterflies and dragonflies, amid verdant tufts of greenery and sprays of flowers. As the day passes and the tonal palette dims subtly from bright day to a cool blue star-flecked night, one last view leaves the small frog with eyes closed in blissful appreciation. Poetic and peaceful: a natural for bedtime reading.”—Kirkus Reviews